First game of the season: Portsmouth 47, Waterford 44..........the Trojans trailed the Wildcats 32-21 at halftime, but Coach Eugene Collins decided to press Waterford after the break, and it was the difference in the game. WHS scored only 12 points after halftime, and Portsmouth forced 17 turnovers. 6-3 senior Kendal Reynolds came through with some clutch baskets/FT's in the final 2 minutes. PHS still trailed 38-32 going into the 4th quarter, but won the battle in the final frame 15-6.
Starting 5: Kendal Reynolds, 6-1 senior Dakota Reynolds, 5-10 senior Michael Malone, 6-1 junior Reese Johnson, 5-9 junior DJ Eley. Off the bench: 6-2 junior Daniel Jordan, 5-10 senior Ty Oliver, 6-5 junior Gabe Gambill, 6-5 sophomore Collin Boehm.
Coal Grove 51, Portsmouth 46..........PHS led 39-37 going into the 4th quarter, but the Trojans went cold from the field, and the Hornets nailed 6 straight FT's in the last minute to seal the win. Portsmouth is 0-1 in OVC play. Good news is that the 7th, 8th, 9th, and JV teams all have defeated Coal Grove this season. Portsmouth will get a return match with the Hornets at PHS.
Portsmouth West @ Portsmouth Dec.23.......Portsmouth 72, West 60........Trojans led only 8-6 after the 1st quarter, 28-22 at halftime, then extended the lead to as much as 14 points in the 4th quarter. Trojans had 4 players in double figures. The Portsmouth JV team lost to West by about 15 points. During halftime of the varsity game, 1975 PHS graduate David Underwood was inducted into the Trojan Athletic Hall of Fame, along with Josh Myers and Derek Haggerty. Also, the Portsmouth Junior High boys 7th and 8th grade teams are both 3-3 on the season. The Portsmouth freshmen team is 2-2 on the season, after not winning a game last year as 8th graders.
KSA Holiday Classic........Hilliard, FL 65, Portsmouth 60...........Reese Johnson 16 points, Gabe Gambill 15.........Trojans now 2-2 on the season
KSA Holiday Classic........Portsmouth 65, Edgewood FL 53.......Mike Malone 16 points, Reese Johnson 12, Kendal Reynolds 9.........Trojans improve to 3-2
KSA Holiday Classic........Portsmouth 70, McKeel Academy 58.........Kendal Reynolds 20 points, Mike Malone 20, Daniel Jordan 9........Trojans improve to 4-2 and 7-2 overall in 3 trips to the KSA.
Tuesday, Jan.3........Portsmouth 56, South Point 46........Trojans had as much as an 18 point lead in the 3rd quarter, but the Pointers (5-2) cut the lead to 10 with about 4 minutes to play. Portsmouth played an outstanding defensive game in the halfcourt. Before the contest, senior Kendal Reynolds was honored for reaching the 1,000 point milestone in his career, which he achieved while at the KSA tourney in Florida. He went into the SP game with 1,006 points. It's the 4th player in Coach Eugene Collins 8 years that a player has scored at least 1,000 points at PHS. Senior Mike Malone was also honored for being the Trojans MVP at the KSA tourney. Starting 5: SR Reynolds, SR Malone, JR Reese Johnson, JR DJ Eley, and JR Daniel Jordan. PHS lost both the freshmen and JV games. Kendal Reynolds led the Trojans with 17 points, while Mike Malone had 10 and Reese Johnson 9.
Friday, Jan.6 at Chesapeake.......postponed to Jan.28
Tuesday, Jan.10 at Fairland........Fairland 67, Portsmouth 48........The Dragons improved to 9-1 as they were tested for 3 quarters by the 5-3 Trojans. Portsmouth was trailing only by 3 points late in the third frame before Gunner Short nailed two 3's to stretch the lead to 9 points. PHS never threatened the Dragons after that. Fairland got quite a few second chance points, and the Trojans did not shoot the ball well from behind the arc. Kendal Reynolds and Mike Malone led PHS with 12 points, while Daniel Jordan had a good game at both ends of the court. Fairland was without their 6-6 star post player Collin Van Horn, who suffered a nose/eye injury in practice on Monday. He may return before the end of the regular season.
Friday, Jan.13 Rock Hill.........Portsmouth 81, Rock Hill 41........The Trojans jumped to an 18-6 lead after the 1st quarter, and expanded the lead to 38-17 at the half. PHS kept increasing the lead after halftime, despite Coach Collins emptying his bench. Kendal Reynolds led the Trojans with 20 points, while Mike Malone added 14, hitting 4 of 6 three pointers. Portsmouth did shoot only 7-24 from the FT line, with most of the misses from the bench. Everybody on the varsity roster scored. PHS is now 6-3 overall, 2-2 in OVC play, while Rock Hill fell to 0-6 in the conference. The PHS JV team defeated Rock Hill.
Tuesday, Jan.17 @ Ironton.......Portsmouth 55, Ironton 46.......The Trojans led throughout the game, and had as much as an 18 point lead in the 2nd half, but the Fighting Tigers rallied to within 8 points with just over a minute to play. Kendal Reynolds sealed the win with some clutch FT's in the final 2 minutes. The Trojans half court defense was outstanding. Mike Malone scored 14, Kendal Reynolds 13, and Reese Johnson added 12. The Trojans are now 7-3 on the season, having won 5 of their last 6 games. The PHS JV team lost in OT.
Friday, Jan. 20 Gallia Academy........Gallia Academy 48, Portsmouth 43.........The Trojans led 12-11 after 1 quarter, but scored only 2 points in the 2nd period and trailed 25-14 at the half. PHS outscored the Blue Devils 16-6 in the 3rd quarter to pull within 31-30 heading into the last quarter. Portsmouth briefly took a 39-37 lead, but GAHS responded with a 11-4 run to secure their 8th win against 4 losses. The Trojans fell to 7-4 on the season, and are now 3-3 in OVC play. DJ Eley and Reese Johnson each nailed three 3 pointers for the Trojans. PHS closes the regular season at Gallia Academy. GAHS featured 6-10 freshman Zach Loveday, who blocked at least a half dozen shots by the Trojans.
Saturday, Jan.21 Manchester @North Adams HS........Portsmouth 60, Manchester 45.........The Trojans came back from Friday's loss to Gallia Academy by leading this game virtually the whole way. The Trojans led at the end of each quarter and had as much as a 20 point lead. Kendal Reynolds had a very good game offensively with 24 points, as well as did Daniel Jordan, who scored in double figures. Portsmouth improved to 8-4 on the year.
Tuesday, Jan.24 Ironton........Portsmouth 69, Ironton 63........This game was a tale of two halves as the Fighting Tigers took a 29-17 lead into halftime, then scored the first 4 points of the 3rd quarter to boost their lead to 33-17. After that, it was all Trojans as PHS scored 26 points in both the 3rd and 4th periods to outscore IHS 52-30 and finish with a 69-63 win. DJ Eley and Mike Malone led PHS with 19 points apiece, while Kendal Reynolds added 18. The Trojans did well at the free throw line, and their defensive intensity picked up in the second half. Portsmouth's win gave the Trojans a 90-66 lead in the all time series. Ethan Wilson of Ironton had an outstanding game with 33 points. The Trojans are now 9-4 on the season, and have an excellent chance to go 11-4 to finish the week with Coal Grove at home Friday and a road game at Chesapeake on Saturday.
Friday, Jan.27......Portsmouth 54, Coal Grove 36........Coal Grove took a brief lead of 17-16, but the Trojans led 21-17 at the half, then took control of the game in the 3rd quarter with some excellent pressure defense. The lead grew to as much as 20 points by the 4th quarter. Daniel Jordan had his best game as a Trojans, scoring 18 points. The 6-2 junior also had a good game rebounding. The PHS JV and freshmen teams also won their games. The Trojans upped their record to 10-4.
Saturday, Jan.28........Portsmouth, 59, Chesapeake 36.........The Trojans controlled this game from the start, and led at every quarter stop. PHS led 35-22 at the half, then extended the lead to the final margin. Mike Malone led the Trojans with 15 points, all 3 pointers, while Daniel Jordan had another excellent scoring game, pitching in 13. 6-5 junior Gabe Gambill had 10 points. PHS is now 11-4 on the season, with games at South Point on 1/30, home with Chesapeake on 2/3, then close the week at home with Wheelersburg on 2/4.
Tuesday, Jan.31.......Portsmouth 71, South Point 66 OT........The Pointers jumped to a 13-3 lead at the start, and held a 27-25 advantage at the half. SP continued to hold the lead going into the 4th quarter, and had a 4 point lead with just under a minute to play. The Trojans DJ Eley stole the ball from Pointers PG Tayshawn Fox, and PHS gained possession with 15 seconds to play. Eley was fouled with just .3 of a second left on the clock and the Trojans down 2 points. He made the first 2, then missed the third after a SP timeout. Regulation ended in a 60-60 tie. In OT, South Point hit two 3's to give them a 66-60 lead, but the Trojans ended the game on an 11-0 run, sparked by Eley, Daniel Jordan, and Jahmir King, who made 5 of 6 FT's in the clutch. Kendal Reynolds led the Trojans with 23 points, Eley added 15, and Jordan chipped in 12. PHS is now a very good 12-4 on the season, and host Chesapeake on Friday.
Friday, Feb. 3........Portsmouth 52, Chesapeake 48........The Trojans struggled with the Panthers this time, playing them for the second time in a week. After Portsmouth took a 19-10 lead in the 2nd quarter, CHS ended the half with a 14-3 run, leading 24-22 at the half. The game continued to be close, and with 3 minutes remaining, Chesapeake still had a lead. The Trojans made a couple of steals and converted them into baskets. Kendal Reynolds led the Trojans in scoring, and he was clutch at the FT line late. Portsmouth improved to 13-4 and 8-3 in the OVC.
Saturday, Feb.4........Portsmouth 77, Wheelersburg 75 OT.........The Trojans and Pirates staged yet another classic game with PHS squeaking out a 2 point win. The Burg led after the first quarter, but the Trojans tied the game at 31 by halftime. PHS led 49-48 after the 3rd quarter, but Wheelersburg fought back to lead for most of the 4th period. With WHS holding a 2 point lead with less than a minute to go, a missed one and one gave the Trojans a chance to tie the game, and that they did as Daniel Jordan scored on a layup. The Burg tried to work the clock for the final shot, but a turnover gave the ball back to Portsmouth. The Trojans, though, could not score and the game went into OT. The Trojans took control of the OT as Kendal Reynolds and Mike Malone spearheaded the surge. PHS was outstanding at the FT line. Portsmouth upped its record to 14-4, while Wheelersburg fell to 12-5. Reynolds led PHS with 23 points, while Mike Malone, Reese Johnson, and Daniel Jordan also pitched in double figures.
Tuesday, Feb.7.......Fairland 65, Portsmouth 55..........The Trojans led after each of the first 3 quarters, but a 5 minute drought in the 4th quarter that produced only 2 points proved to be the Trojans undoing. The shots that were falling for the first 3 periods just didn't fall in the final 8 minutes. PHS was outscored in the 4th 23-9. The Dragons (AP #3 in D3, 17-1), clinched the game at the FT line, going 16-20 overall. Reese Johnson led Portsmouth with 13 points, while DJ Eley pitched in 11. PHS is now a very good 14-5 on the season, and 8-4 in OVC play. They close the regular season at Rock Hill on Friday, at South Webster on Tuesday, and at Gallia Academy the following Friday.
Friday, Feb.10.......Portsmouth 73, Rock Hill 64.........The Trojans had a battle with the Redmen the second time around, after winning the first game 81-41 at PHS. RH jumped to a 16-7 lead in the first quarter, and led 28-27 at the half. The Trojans took control of the game in the 3rd quarter, and built as much as a 10 point lead, but Rock Hill fought back to within 3 with a minute to play. Kendal Reynolds made a key steal at that point and converted a layup to give the Trojans a 5 point lead, and some clutch FT's in the final minute led to the final margin. Reynolds led PHS with 25 points, while DJ Eley scored 21. Mason Darby of Rock Hill had a great game, scoring 41 points. With the win, Portsmouth secured a 15th win for the 43rd time in school history.
Tuesday, Feb.14........South Webster 64, Portsmouth 38........The Jeeps dominated the Trojans virtually from the opening tip, and PHS never really got a rally of any type going. SW led at every quarter stop, and the lead grew to as much as 30 points in the 4th quarter. Kendal Reynolds led the Trojans with 10 points, while Reese Johnson added 6. Portsmouth is still a very good 15-6 on the season and last night was just one game on the schedule. The Trojans have shown many times this season that they can play some very good basketball, especially when the shots are falling. Last night, the shots weren't falling and the Jeeps took full advantage of it. PHS can claim 2nd place in the OVC by themselves as they travel to Gallia Academy to play the Blue Devils on Friday. Both schools are 9-4 in OVC play.
Senior Kendal Reynolds passed Jeff Lisath into 4th place on the all time PHS scoring list, and now has over 1,300 points. Larry Hisle is 3rd all time with 1,375 points.
Friday, Feb.17........Gallia Academy 81, Portsmouth 57.........The Trojans battled the Blue Devils despite the final margin, when GAHS pulled away in the final 3 minutes. The Trojans trailed only by 8 points in the 4th quarter, but simply couldn't get any closer. Justin Peck had and outstanding game for GAHS with 34, while Kendal Reynolds had 15 and Daniel Jordan 14 for PHS. The Trojans did force the Blue Devils into a good number of turnovers. GAHS finished 2nd in the OVC at 10-4 and 16-6 overall, while Portsmouth finished 9-5 in OVC play and 15-7 overall for the 2nd straight year.
SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT AT WAVERLY
Tuesday, Feb. 21........Portsmouth 67, Valley 47.........The Trojans took command of the game early, pressing the Indians and forcing numerous turnovers. After the 1st quarter, PHS led 23-7. Valley settled down in the 2nd quarter and actually outscored Portsmouth 16-13 to trail 36-23 at the half. Mike Malone scored all 15 of his points in the first half. The 3rd quarter saw the teams basically trade baskets, and heading into the 4th period, PHS still had a comfortable lead. The Trojans then put the Indians away with a strong flurry of baskets which swelled to lead to 20 points, which was the final margin. Kendal Reynolds scored 28 points to lead PHS. Christian Breech scored 19 to lead Valley. The Indians and Trojans have split 4 tournament meetings since 2010, with Valley winning in sectional play in 2010, the district final in 2014, while the Trojans defeated the Indians in the 2012 district championship and last night. Portsmouth will play North Adams Saturday at 6:00 PM for the sectional championship. North Adams beat West Union 56-36 in their first round game. If PHS wins, it will be the 63rd sectional title in school history. With the win, it also is the 39th time a PHS boys basketball team has won at least 16 games in a season. A win on Saturday will give the Trojans win #17, which will be the 34th time in school history to achieve that mark.
Saturday, Feb.25.......Portsmouth 50, North Adams 43..........The Trojans captured their 64th sectional title in school history with a hard fought win over the Green Devils. PHS fell behind 12-6 after the first quarter, but led 16-13 at the half. Portsmouth then extended the lead to 39-27, but NA scored the next 6 points to close to 39-33. The Green Devils continued to battle and came as close as 46-43 with just about a minute remaining. The Trojans made their FT's in the clutch, though, to seal the victory. Kendal Reynolds scored 22 points to lead PHS, while Reese Johnson pitched in 17. PHS will now play South Point in the first round of the district tournament in Athens.
The Trojans 17 wins (17-7) is the 34th time in school history to reach that number of wins in a season.
DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Sunday, March 5th.........South Point 59, Portsmouth 42........The Trojans led at the half 28-21, but could only muster 14 points in the final 16 minutes. Cold shooting and turnovers after halftime doomed the Trojans. SP led 40-35 after 3 quarters and continued to pull away in the 4th period as PHS couldn't mount a serious rally. Kendal Reynolds ended his outstanding career with 13 points and tallied 1,341 points for his career. Senior Mike Malone added 12 in his final game as a Trojan. PHS ended with a 17-8 record, and Coach Eugene Collins' overall record now stands at 139-56. The Trojans have averaged just over 17 wins a season under his guidance.
Portsmouth does return 3 starters for the 2017-2018 season...........Reese Johnson, DJ Eley, and Daniel Jordan.