Here is the Portsmouth Trojans year by year record from 1950-1959 with highlights:
1950: 18-5.......District Champions(beat Chillicothe for title), James "Sweetwater" Douglas makes steal and basket to beat Lancaster in district semifinal; lost to Hamilton in regional semifinals
1951: 18-4.......District Champions; beat undefeated Chillicothe 53-51 for district title; lost to eventual state runnerup Hamilton in regional semifinals
1952: 14-8.......District Champions; lost to eventual state champion Middletown in regional semifinals
1953: 15-6.......Upset by Minford 75-70 in district tournament; beat 53 state champion Middletown 70-63 in regular season
1954: 14-10.....Lost in regional finals to 54 state champion Hamilton; Leroy Carr 23.6 PPG
1955: 20-4.......First 20 win season since 1934; lost in regional finals to Cincinnati Hughes 56-54 on last second tip-in
1956: 16-7......District Champions for 6th time in 7 years; lost in regional semifinals to 56 state champion Middletown
1957: 5-13......Fewest wins in a season since 1918; lost to Ironton in sectional
1958: 6-15......Most losses in a season since 1946; lost to Ironton in sectional
1959: 9-12......Most consecutive losing seasons to date; lost to Chillicothe in sectional
In 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955 and 1956, Portsmouth lost in the regional tournament to either the state champion or state runnerup.