CHESAPEAKE, Ohio — Getting hot at the right time.

The River Valley girls basketball team has won back-to-back games for the first time all season and it couldn’t happen at a better time as the tournament nears. The Lady Raiders edged Ohio Valley Conference host Chesapeake 46-45 Thursday night, one night after defeating visiting Southern 71-52.

A slow paced first period left the Lady Panthers (10-7, 2-5 OVC) with a 8-to-5 advantage over the RVHS (5-12, 2-5). CHS out scored the Silver and Black doubled its lead in the second period and led 22-16 at halftime.

For the second straight night a third period run was the difference for the Lady Raiders. RVHS out scored Chesapeake 15-to-8 in the third and led by one point with eight minutes remaining. Each team scored 15 points in the final period and River Valley held on for the 46-45 victory.

Freshman Leia Moore led RVHS with 21 points, including nine in the fourth period. Cady Gilmore finished with 14 points, followed by Courtney Smith with seven. Chelsea Copley and Rachael Smith each finished with two points to round out the Lady Raiders total.

RVHS hit four three-pointers on the night led by Gilmore with two. Moore and Courtney Smith each hit one triple. The Silver and Black shot 8-of-11 from the free throw line for 72.7 percent. RVHS was charged with 16 fouls in the game.

Kaylee Curry led CHS with a double-double performance of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jackie Nelson and Sydnee Hall each scored 10 points for the Purple and White. Taylor Martin had four points, while Kelsey Curry and Mackenzie Moore each had two. Anna Mayo rounded out the Lady Panthers total with one point, but finished with 10 rebounds and five steals.

Nelson hit the lone three-pointer for the hosts. Chesapeake finished a woeful 10-of-22 from the free throw line, equaling 45.4 percent. CHS committed 15 fouls on the night.

River Valley also defeated Chesapeake on January 3rd in Bidwell by a count of 56-43.