Portsmouth Trojans 2024-25

[Hoopster98]

Thomas’ play has really stepped up this season. I’m not sure if it’s due to the system he is in that allows him to play more freely or what. He has a different mind set right now

[trojandave]

Haven't heard anything about the postponed games, but the Trojans are scheduled this week to play @ South Point on Tuesday, H vs. Chesapeake on Friday, and @ Shawnee State vs. Chillicothe at 5PM Saturday. Hopefully we can these get these games in.

Hoopster98: I think Connie's play is due to 2 things; we're seeing a player that was under the radar last season at ND, where his talent wasn't utilized, and second Coach Smith allows him freedom to be not only a PG that can dish out assists, but also a scoring PG, which I've always believed in. A PG should be allowed to score too, not just distribute the ball. Connie has more than fulfilled both duties. In addition he plays some good on-ball defense.

[trojandave]

Watched the undefeated 8th grade team last night as they cruised to an lopsided win over Coal Grove. This team has all the pieces to be very successful on the varsity in 2 years. They have 3 kids that are 6-1 to 6-3, have excellent guards that have good handles and can score from anywhere, and they can put on a suffocating press with their athleticism. There's enough depth to not have to rely on just 2-3 players to carry them. They are also well coached by Kevin Monroe and Joe Greene. These kids have the work ethic to be successful going forward.

Remember that just a couple of years ago, the PJHS Lady Trojans went undefeated, and fast forward to now and the bulk of the Lady Trojans roster is made up of sophomores and freshmen, the same group that were undefeated JH OVC champions. The Lady Trojans only start 1 SR and 1 JR, and yet they are ranked #1 in D5 Ohio with roster that is basically made up of players who are just a couple of years removed from Junior High basketball.

Can these 8th grade boys do something similar to what the Lady Trojans have done thus far? In 2 years I really believe they will make a significant impact on the varsity. The 1986 Trojans started 4 sophomores, who then went 16-8 and made the district finals. 2 years later they won the D2 state title. Not saying these 8th graders will follow the same path, but they history has a way of repeating itself. I firmly believe that we Trojan fans are in store for some high level winning basketball with this group, and to add the 6th grade is undefeated as well.

Go Trojans!!

[trojandave]

Portsmouth used a 33-23 second half scoring advantage to defeat South Point @SP 55-45. For the 3rd time in 4 years, the teams have won on each other's home court. Connie Thomas continued his stellar play with 22 points, while the Trojan man defense stifled the Pointers offense throughout the game. PHS is now 5-6 on the season, and 3-2 in OVC play. PHS entertains Chesapeake on Friday at Trojan Arena. The Panthers walloped the Trojans 77-44 @ CHS earlier. The PHS JV is now 6-3 after winning at SP.

[trojandave]

Last night was a rough game for the Trojans, as the Chesapeake Panthers completed a 2 game sweep of PHS with a 50-27 win @Trojan Arena. PHS is now 5-7 on the season, and 3-3 in the OVC. Portsmouth led after 1 quarter 12-10, then a scoring drought hit the Trojans for the last 3 periods, as they managed only 15 points the rest of the way, 9 in the 2nd half. The defense tried to keep the Trojans in the game, but the shots just weren't falling. The 27 points is the fewest scored by PHS at home since a 55-25 loss to Wheelersburg in the late 1990's.

Portsmouth plays Chillicothe today @Shawnee State beginning at 5 PM.

[trojandave]

The Trojans beat their long time rival Chillicothe Cavaliers 62-56 Saturday @Shawnee State in the Buckeye Elite. Chillicothe had won 18 of the last 21 games vs. the Trojans, but this time PHS stayed ahead most of the game, and frustrated the taller Cavaliers with their pesky quick defense. PHS now trails the series 45-44, and it's the first win by PHS vs. CHS since the 2012 season, when Portsmouth swept Chillicothe and finished D3 state runnerup that season. Malachi Loper had 22 points, while Daequan Woods and Connie Thomas scored double figures as well. PHS now 6-7 on the season.

Proud of the Trojans, coach Smith and staff, for beating Chillicothe which is PHS's 2nd most common opponent.

Portsmouth entertains Ironton @Trojan Arena on Tuesday.

[trojandave]

Ironton thumped the Trojans last night @Trojan Arena 69-44. PHS was never really in the game, as the Fighting Tigers took a big lead early and expanded it in the 2nd half. IHS has now won 11 of the last 13 games vs. Portsmouth, but the Trojans still lead the series 95-77. Malachi Loper had 13 points and now has 1,078 for his career, while Kaleb Johnson had his best scoring game with 12. PHS now 0-3 in the OVC at home, 3-4 overall in conference play.

The JV Trojans dropped their 2nd straight game to fall to 6-5.

In a strange scheduling arraignment, PHS travels to Ironton on Friday.

[Hoopster98]

The Trojans I think had 6 or 7 turnovers in the 1st quarter. Hopefully Thomas gets healthy because they need his playmaking ability. Trojans have spurts were they look really good and have spurts where they look really bad. The lack of size/depth (height, physicality) really hurts the Trojans. They have the ability to upset any team but in order to do so they must rebound, play defense, and take care of basketball.

[trojandave]

Hoopster98: Totally agree with your post. The most frustrating thing about the Trojans is their wild inconsistency. Case in point, last Friday we lost to Chesapeake by 23, then the very next day beat Chillicothe by 6, then 3 days later lose to Ironton by 25......and the Chesapeake/Ironton losses were at home.

[biggdowgg]

I know our boys took one on the chin but I have seen a lot of positives ,esp for a group that is learning to play together for the first year for a few of them ,and also learning under a new head coach and assistant coaches. There is some really good talent on this team ,they just need to keep buying into what the coaches are teaching.

Agree lack of size and bench depth is a struggle,but they proved they could hang in with a team with more size and beat Chillicothe who was definitely much longer

[trojandave]

For the 2nd time in 3 days, Ironton thumped the Trojans, this time by a score of 84-40. The Fighting Tigers jumped to a 19-6 lead early, and were never threatened. Daequan Woods led PHS with 16 points, while Malachi Loper's career total is now unofficially 1,088 points. Portsmouth is now 6-9 on the season, and 3-5 in the OVC, while Ironton is 7-4 and 6-1 in the OVC. The PHS JV lost and are now 6-6. For the second game in a row, Brayden Schreck of Ironton had a huge game vs. the Trojans, probably totaling somewhere around 50 points.

Connie Thomas was not available, and his future status in unknown at this time.

Portsmouth still leads the overall series 95-78, but Ironton has won 12 of the last 14 games between the two schools.

[trojandave]

This season has seen a number of unfortunate circumstances that has severely affected Coach Aaron Smith's 1st season. 6-2 JR Logan Adkins was scheduled to be a starter, but he injured his knee in football and recently has surgery. He was very capable of averaging 15 PPG. His return next season will be a welcome addition. 6-5 SR Luke Stine has been out all season with a knee issue, and his return looks unlikely. His defense and rebounding has been sorely missed. SO CreShawn Dukes, who had been getting good varsity minutes, sprained his ankle a couple of games ago, and he will likely return but when is uncertain. Now leading scorer Connie Thomas was unavailable last night, most likely due an ankle sprain he suffered last Tuesday vs. Ironton. Unknown status as to his return.

So what looked like a competitive team that had some talent coming into the 2024-25 season has spiraled in the wrong direction, and what lies ahead is anyone's guess. Hopefully the Trojans can regroup and get things going in the right direction.

[trojandave]

Congratulations to PJHS 8th grader Joe Greene for scoring his 500th career point last night vs. Gallia Academy in the OVC tournament @Trojan Arena. The undefeated Trojans will play @Chesapeake on Thursday vs. Ironton for the OVC championship, starting at 7:15.

[trojandave]

It was a wild night at Trojan Arena yesterday, as the Trojans outlasted the Coal Grove Hornets 56-53 in 2 OT. PHS struggled mightily on offense, as they could only muster 11 points in the first half and 12 total midway in the 3rd quarter. Down 30-12, the Trojans turned up the defensive pressure, led by Dee Parker and Daequan Woods, which ignited the offense. Shots started to fall that missed their mark earlier. Woods hit some key 3 balls, and turnovers caused by the Trojans' pressure D resulted in some quick buckets. PHS still had to survive 2 game potential game winning shots by CG in regulation and at the end of the first OT.

Woods led PHS with 23 points, while Malachi Loper scored 17, and Dee Parker pitched in 8. The Trojans are now 7-9 on the season and 4-5 in the OVC. Loper now has an even 1,100 points for his career, passing Dion McKinley, Wayne Evans, and Matthew Fraulini, who all scored 1,096 points. The PHS JV won and are now 7-6 on the season.

Last night was PHS's 3rd straight OT at home win dating back to last season, when the Trojans beat Rock Hill in OT and Ironton in 3 OT.

The Portsmouth 8th grade boys play Ironton @ Chesapeake on Thursday for the OVC JH championship, starting at 7:15 PM. The Trojans boys are undefeated and are looking for a second consecutive OVC title which they won last season as 7th graders.

[Hoopster98]

I've said it once and I will say it again. If your offense is struggling, let you your defense become your offense by scoring easy points off turnovers.
Way to fight back Trojans. No knock on previous trojan teams but I feel like those teams would of thrown in the towel.

[trojandave]

Last night the Trojans travelled to Proctorville and came up on the short end of a 70-43 defeat. The Dragons were up at the half 34-17, but PHS battled back to cut the lead to 40-29. Fairland then expanded their lead with 3 consecutive 3 balls, and PHS didn't have enough offense to respond. Daequan Woods followed up his 23 point effort vs. Coal Grove the night before with a 19 point game vs. Fairland. Malachi Loper now has 1,106 points for his career. Portsmouth dropped to 7-10 overall and 4-6 in the OVC, tied with South Point for 5th place. FHS has now won 17 of the last 21 games vs. PHS in OVC play, dating back to the 2014-2015 season when Portsmouth joined the conference. Fairland is tied with Chesapeake for 1st in the OVC with a 10-0 record (actually 1/2 game ahead of 9-0 Chesapeake).

The PHS JV lost and are now 7-7 on the season. PHS resumes OVC tomorrow when the Rock Hill Redmen come to Trojan Arena. PHS won at RH earlier, with Connie Thomas scoring 29 points.

[trojandave]

For the 2nd straight season, Rock Hill and Portsmouth played an OT game @Trojan Arena. Last night saw the Redmen come out with a 68-67 win, PHS won the OT game last season. Last night, RH jumped to a 23-7 lead midway in the 2nd quarter, and led at halftime 34-23. The Trojans slowly chipped away at the lead, and actually had a 4 point lead with a minute to go. But some costly fouls and missed FT's allowed RH to come away with the win. Malachi Loper had 23 points, and now has 1,129 for his career, while Daequan Woods had his 3rd straight good scoring game with 22. His last 3 games saw him score 23, 19, and 22. PHS is now 7-11 on the season and 4-7 in the OVC.

The win by RH was only the 3rd vs. PHS since the Trojans joined the conference in 2015. PHS is 19-3 vs. RH. The PHS JV upped their mark to 8-7 with a 10 point win.

[trojandave]

The undefeated OVC champion 8th grade team will be honored at halftime of the varsity boys game tomorrow night vs. Fairland. The 8th graders beat Ironton 53-52 in the OVC tournament championship game last Thursday.

[art_vandelay]

The undefeated OVC champion 8th grade team will be honored at halftime of the varsity boys game tomorrow night vs. Fairland. The 8th graders beat Ironton 53-52 in the OVC tournament championship game last Thursday.

Trojans 8th grade got some real talent. Some of those kids will be playing varsity from day 1 next season, and getting Logan Adkins back from injury will also be huge for Portsmouth. Better days ahead for the Trojans*

[trojandave]

Tuesday night the Fairland Dragons came to Trojan Arena and left with a 64-43 win over the Trojans. FHS raced out to a 27-7 lead, but PHS cut the lead to 12 in the 3rd quarter. The Dragons then extended their lead again with several 3 balls. Malachi Loper had 18 points, and now has 1,147 for his career, while Daequan Woods had his 4th straight double figure scoring game with 12. PHS is now 7-12 on the season, and 4-8 in the OVC, with 2 conference games remaining vs. Gallia Academy. Fairland is now 18-4 vs. Portsmouth since PHS joined the conference in 2015. Fairland is battling Chesapeake for the top spot in the OVC.

The PHS JV dropped to 8-8 with the loss to Fairland, but still doing much better this season after going 6-32 the past 2 years.