Portsmouth Trojans (21-5) (10-2) 2010-2011

[trojandave]

I attended the Portsmouth Junior High Shootout on Saturday, and our kids did very well.......the 7th grade won their tournament, while the 8th grade was split into 2 teams.......Wheelersburg won the 8th grade tournament, but I feel if we had all the 8th grade kids together, we could have won.......but both teams were very competitive even split up........Coach Collins wants maximum participation, so it was good to see so many 8th grade Portsmouth kids playing........there is a possibility that the 7th grade could be split up into 2 teams when the season starts.......and 7th grader Kyre Allison will see time with the 8th grade team which is a good move.

With the varsity program on the upswing, and these kids coming up on their heels, the Trojans should be able to field some good basketball teams for the next 5-6 years.

[trojandave]

Hope to find out pretty soon about who the Trojans will play in Florida......when I find out, I will post it. Schools are grouped according to enrollment.......I am really excited about making the trip......Lord willing........looks like we may have several fans who will be there to support the Trojan hoopsters.

[aka4knotts]

Any word on A. Bendolph?
Got a call yesterday saying he is ineligible to play this year.

[trojandave]

I haven't heard anything whatsoever about Andrew being ineligible.......and he is practicing with the football team......I wouldn't think he would be practicing if he were going to be ineligible.

[trojandave]

After talking to several people yesterday, some "very close" to the situation, the issue of Andrew Bendolph's eligibility is not nearly final........he could soon be wearing red and blue......beyond that, I WILL NOT discuss on this forum or on a PM any particulars regarding this matter.

With Andrew, the Trojans are a state contender........without him, Seth Bratchett will be the point guard and will do a fine job once he grows into the position........playing the point won't be unfamiliar territory for Seth.......he has done it since the 7th grade. It's possible that Wayne Evans could take the PG slot, with Bratchett at the 2, but I think that's unlikely since Wayne is better at the 2, with Seth better at the 1.

Remember that last year Portsmouth had a 5-3 record BEFORE Tory Horne and Dion McKinley joined the team, and won at Wheelersburg and Warren without them.......this coming year, with Tre Underwood, Dion McKinley, Wayne Evans, and Len Collins, along with Bratchett, the Trojans will still have a very good starting 5.......but the bench will be thinner. Team chemistry will still be solid, though.

I had Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Ironton as the SE D3 frontrunners for the regional title, with Piketon and Peebles in the mix........without Bendolph, the Trojans are still in the conversation, but in my honest opinion, the Panthers, Tigers, and Redstreaks will have moved ahead of Portsmouth........but that doesn't mean the Trojans aren't capable of making that magical run in the postseason. 20 games is a long time to develop as a team and PHS will still have one of, if not the best low post tandem in the SE District in Underwood and McKinley. Evans will have a solid season with or without Andrew as his running mate.

A lot of things to be determined, and a lot of possibilities exist, but the cement is still wet on Plan A (Bendolph playing)........but you have to have a Plan B (Bendolph not playing) just in case.......and Plan B still looks pretty good the way I see it.

[4dfalcons]

I don't think the Bendolph thing is unexpected. Given the OSHAA transfer rules, Bendolph has to be declared eligible by OSHAA and establish a bona fide residence in Portsmouth City school district. Unless there is some backward look at was there a bona fide move to Wheelersburg, this should not be a problem.

[trojandave]

I hope you're right, 4dfalcons.......I sure loved watching Andrew play this summer........he was the most Trojans' most outstanding player........and he was a star in the Bannon Park Classic, getting rave reviews from seasoned veterans who also played.

[baller3]

I'm excited to see my Cavs play against the Trojans this year.. I think we've won every game against Ptown the last 5 years but this year will be a test for sure. Portsmouth is loaded with good players. The Cavs are loaded as well which will make it an interesting matchup. I always love coming down to the Portsmouth gym, really nice facility.

The Cavs will be led by Jalen Ragland and Malik London. Jalen already has scholarship offers from several NCAA 1 schools. All schools are interested in Malik.

I honestly look for both of these teams playing in the regionals with a possibility at State. Chillicothe's coaching staff has coached at the elite level. Now its time to see if the Portsmouth coaches can do the same. I'm not so sure tho.

Go Cavs

[biggdowgg]

we heard he same things when he went to burg, eveyone said he would not be eligible to play there either.

[trojandave]

biggdowgg: I feel much better about Andrew's eligibility after yesterday.......I'll leave it at that.

We should find out his status in early September.

[trojandave]

baller3: I would love to end that 13 game losing streak vs. the Cavaliers this year.......I feel we can do it, because we got very close twice last year........how we do vs. CHS could very well determine the SEOAL champion.......it would be very nice to win the league, but of course at Portsmouth, tournament success is important and should always be that way. Our goal is to win another state title, hopefully sooner than later.

[biggdowgg]

biggdowgg: I feel much better about Andrew's eligibility after yesterday.......I'll leave it at that.

We should find out his status in early September.

well , Dave you and I have always said,,it is what it is,and we will play the hand that is dealt to us......like you said we would be a better team with him, but even without him we will still be pretty darn good.

my guess is, this thing will be played out like the Torey Horne deal.

[trojandave]

If indeed the FINAL ruling on Andrew is ineligible, it will be interesting to see what Coach Collins does with the bench.......with Seth projected to take over at PG, that leaves the Trojans with 2 players off the bench who were in the rotation over the summer...5-8 L.J.Adams and 6-2 Mason Jordan. I would think 6-1 Duke Edwards will probably play both JV and varsity, while 6-2 Benji Carr and 6-3 Trevor Brown could give PHS some needed size subbing in. It will be intriguing to see if Coach Collins will press as much as he did during the summer.

Seth was playing well last season on JV/varsity until he got hurt midway through January and had to sit out the rest of the games........there's no doubt in my mind that he can do the job at PG and by the time the tournament comes around, he should be a seasoned veteran.

[rockyraccoon]

Rumour I heard was he would be ineligible until april, but I didn't hear why. I hope not, being his senior year, he should at least get to play somewhere.

[trojandave]

The Trojans will try and build on a good start to the 2010-2019 decade.......the decade of 2000-2009 was the FIRST losing decade in school history (100-121).......but last year's 12-7 mark was a good start to the new decade and the 2010-2011 team should have an excellent chance to better last year's record and also become the first team since 2004 to advance out of the sectional and also garner the school's first district title since 2001.

Portsmouth's year by year record since its last state title in 1988:

1989: 21-4 District Champions (District Title #29)
1990: 24-3 State Runnerup (District Title #30) (State Appearance #14)
1991: 22-3 Regional Runnerup (District Title #31)
1992: 9-12
1993: 7-16 Sectional Champions
1994: 16-6 District Champions (#32)
1995: 11-8
1996: 4-15
1997: 13-9 Sectional Champions
1998: 13-10 Sectional Champions
1999: 18-5 District Champions (#33)
2000: 14-8 District Runnerup
2001: 19-5 District Champions (#34)
2002: 15-8 District Runnerup
2003: 8-13
2004: 9-14 Sectional Champions
2005: 6-15
2006: 6-16
2007: 4-18
2008: 9-12
2009: 10-12
2010: 12-7 (73rd winning season since 1916......71st season of at least 10 wins)

The sectional champion drought (6 years) is the longest in school history, as is the period of 9 years without a district championship (the previous longest period was from 1942-1947).

In the last 3 years in the sectional, Portsmouth lost all 3 games by a total of 9 points.......PHS lost to Zane Trace 80-74 in 2008, lost to North Adams 77-75 in OT in 2009, and last year lost to Valley 63-62.

I went back and added up Portsmouth's record since 1916.......it right now stands at 1,274 wins, 697 losses for a winning pct. of .646........the Trojans used to be in the top 10 all time in Ohio for wins but right now most likely still remains in the top 15, even with the losing skid from 2003-2009.

Canton McKinley is far and away the all-time leader in wins with over 1,600.......yet the Trojans own a 20-19 win over the Bulldogs in the 1931 State Championship in Class A, and also a 46-38 win over McKinley in the 1961 regional final in Class AA.......Portsmouth also has another win over CM in the tournament.......it caught my eye when I was looking up the Trojans' year by year records but I didn't jot down what year it was.......from my research PHS is 3-0 in the postseason vs. McKinley........the Bulldogs did beat the Trojans in 1992 and 1993 in the regular season........92-62 at CM and 83-74 at PHS.

[TrojanXplosion]

So I take it that Bendopolph won't be playing football?

[balltime]

We are hoping he can play this yr. but OHSAA has new rules that started last yr! Go to OHSAA site read the Bonafide Residency Rules. Hope it works out for Andrew,and Portsmouth We Love You!

[LetsGoPSU]

Hope it works out as well......that being said something has to be done.........these kids bouncing back and forth just for thier own benifit...they are not free agents

[El Ray]

Being a Trojan fan selfishly I hope Bendolph can play, however, a part of me says that this is what he gets for transferring in the first place. These kids bouncing around just because something doesn't go their way doesn't teach them anything. How about trying to stick it out and fight through a little adversity or a tough time? How about some loyalty to your friends, school, and community? How about seeing the bigger picture called the game of life and not running from all your problems. The whole thing has just got out of hand. Again the kid has always been pleasant and polite towards me and I would never want to see a kid not be able to play but apart of me thinks the OHSAA needs to start buckling down and encourage kids to play where the live and should be playing

[trojandave]

Just found out a schedule change for the Trojans.......Portsmouth will play Waverly in the Wellston Hoops Classic on Sunday, January 9th at 3:30 pm........this game replaces the Northwest game on the schedule.

Should be a good matchup......especially in the post, with Jake Kretzer and Harrison Martin for Waverly battling Tre Underwood and Dion McKinley for Portsmouth.