Freshmen guards 6-1 Devin Lattimore and 5-9 DeAndre Berry have added some much needed scoring punch to the varsity Trojans offense, and in a couple of games, their scoring contributions made the difference in the game. Listed below are the games in which Lattimore and Berry scored:
12/30 vs. Rock Hill.........Lattimore scored 4 points in his varsity debut; Trojans won 80-58
2/6 vs. Chesapeake.......Lattimore scored 8 points in a 60-57 Trojan win
2/12 vs. Coal Grove.......Berry scored 14 points on four 3's and 2 FT; Lattimore scored 7 in a 65-63 Trojan win in OT
2/13 vs. Fairland............Berry scored 6; Lattimore 4 in a 60-41 Trojan loss
2/22 vs. Belpre..............Berry scored 3; Lattimore scored 11 in a 68-53 Trojan first round sectional win; sophomore Tyler Duncan scored a 3 pointer
2/23 vs. Rock Hill..........Both Lattimore and Berry played but don't have the scoring totals for either
2/26 vs. Fairland (Sectional Championship)........Berry scored 12, Lattimore 2, Cobb 3, Duncan (sophomore) 3; Berry became only the 2nd freshman to lead the Trojans in scoring in a tournament game. (Kyre Allison 17 in 2013) Updated 3/1/21.
Lattimore was in the starting 5 for the Belpre tournament game, and also for the Fairland sectional championship game. Without Berry and Lattimore's scoring in the Coal Grove and Chesapeake games, PHS would have lost.
As much as the Trojans have struggled to score this season, being 0-10 in games scoring less than 50 points, PHS is 8-2 when scoring over 50 points. Lattimore and Berry have definitely made a difference in the Trojans offensive numbers, and there's every reason to believe that Portsmouth should be better offensively in 2021-2022 with these 2 players. It's virtually a sure thing that these 2 will be starting next season, with Lattimore already being in the starting 5, and with Berry's prowess with 3 pointers, that will be much needed in what looks to be an undersized PHS team. Lattimore especially has also shown a keen ability for assists, pushing the ball up the court, and has demonstrated that he can make things happen defensively. Berry has shown the ability to get to the basket when needed.
Credit to Coach Eugene Collins for adding these two to the main rotation, and also he has given playing time to sophomores Tyler Duncan and Reid Pendleton, also freshmen LeVaughn Cobb, and Noah Livingston. Getting experience for next season can only help these kids adjust to the varsity game. I personally feel better about next season after what I've seen with these kids.