Chesnee blasts Wildcats

Photo by SCOTT POWELL Blacksburg's Myron Mitchell looks for an open teammate in the first half of the team's season opener against Chesnee. Blacksburg lost 76-50 in the nonregion contest. Blacksburg players were apparently satisfied with keeping the game close in their season opener against Chesnee.

Unfortunately, Chesnee players had a much different idea in a 76-50 victory over Blacksburg.

Chesnee turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter. Taking advantage of sloppy ballhandling, the Eagles turned a 34-30 halftime lead into a 17 point gap with 3:25 left in the third quarter.

"We were happy to be down by four points at halftime. Chesnee was upset that they were only up by four points," Blacksburg coach Travis Miller said. "It was a matter in the second half of two different mindsets. We have to learn we can't be satisfied with what we have done before."

Chesnee returned four starters from last year's team that advanced to the third round of the playoffs. The Eagles used timely outside shooting and transition baskets to pull away from Blacksburg in the second half.

Josh Elmore led Blacksburg with 11 points. Myron Mitchell and J.J. Lattimore each scored eight points for Blacksburg.

Miller said the team will use the game as a learning experience.

"Chesnee is a really good team," Miller said. "We have got to continue to execute and be more consistent in doing things that have got us to this point."