Portsmouth Trojans 2013-2014 Preview

[trojandave]

The undersized Trojans battled the much taller Tomcats who featured 6-5 Dikembe Dixon, who will be a junior at Ashland this coming season. He was rated the top sophomore in the state of Kentucky last year.

Portsmouth will play in the Shawnee State Summer League on Monday, time uncertain, then will play at Waverly at 10:00 Thursday........by that time, the Trojans will have a different look to them......see the previous post.

PHS will also play at Dayton on Saturday, June 22nd, times and opponents uncertain at this point.......when I find out more details, I will post them.

[art_vandelay]

Trojandave: I know you can't let anything out, but I gotta think maybe some size is moving in to PHS? Backcourt will be phenomenal, so another guard not going to change much, but a decent big man makes PHS a Regional contender next year.*

[trojandave]

art vandeley: Actually, our size hasn't changed with this news, but our backcourt has been bolstered big time, which will allow Kyre Allison to move away from the PG and free him up for his individual skill package. We proved against a much taller Ashland team that we can battle on the boards despite being undersized, but you know in high school basketball you can never have enough guards.......in most years, guard play determines how far a team will go in the tournament.........and right now, our PG slot just got a big upgrade. With Kyre, Sky Oliver, Isaiah Lisath, Kahlil Lattimore, and ???? the Trojans are guard rich and could now have the best backcourt in the SE District. Isaiah Lisath is very much improved according to the early returns, and will be a valuable asset against zone defenses, which PHS faced vs. Ashland and Russell.

There may be more good news for the Trojans before this month is over.......stay tuned.

[wipala]

For us folks in AZ,,,,can you give us a little hint as to what will take place.....I do not look to the Times for info...I look to trojandave and the other posters on this site....

[Trojan_FB_Alum]

Dave you have peeked my interest!!!!

[trojandave]

wipala and TrojanFBAlum: It is best that I give very few details at this time, but I can say that the protocol for eligibility has been followed to the letter. The player actually should be ready to play on Monday at the Shawnee State League (6 PM at PHS), and also at Waverly(10 AM) next Thursday. If this individual is as good as advertised, and I have several glowing reports about him, then the Trojans could very well go from what most likely would be a good season in 2013-2014 to a very good season (challenging the top dogs of pfloyd's rankings). The player will be a sophomore, like Kyre Allison, which will give the Trojans a scary good backcourt for the next 3 years. He played in a state tournament last season as a freshman, and scored something like 8-10 points. Very soon the word will get out about this player and his game, and there will be a time when more details need to be revealed. I am very much looking forward to seeing this kid play!!

I met his parents at the Rock Hill scrimmage, and they are very nice people.

As far as the other "good" news, there are still some things that have to happen with that situation.

[wipala]

thank you,,,looking forward to the info........Now about a large in the middle....

[trojandave]

wipala: Even without the big in the middle, the Trojans are still going to have a very good team.......they proved against a much taller Ashland team (6-6, 6-4, 6-3) that they can hang on the boards, and not only that but caused problems defensively for the Tomcats in the paint. With our new PG, getting Kyre off that slot will prove to be a HUGE plus for PHS on offense.......it will maximize his skills whereas before he would be occupied with scoring yet at the same time distributing the basketball. That would be a tough balance for him given his outstanding offensive abilities.

Of course a big would be a plus for Portsmouth, but it won't break our season if we don't have one. There's normally not a lot of size among D3 schools.......that is seen much more often in D1 and D2 schools. I have seen schools win state championships with a 6-2 or 6-3 center. Cincinnati LaSalle in 2011 beat Columbus Northland for the D1 state title, and Northland had a front line of 6-7, 6-6, 6-5 and Trey Burke at the point. The tallest starter for LaSalle was Brandon Neel, who was 6-3. The Lancers won 59-40 mainly because of Neel and outstanding guard play.........and guard play will be the Trojans' strength. Tournament games are won most of the time by how a team's guards play.

[trojandave]

Last year, I researched and then ranked how Portsmouth's basketball program ranked with the rest of the state. Just last night, I devised an updated system which included the following categories:

A. Number of state appearances
B. Number of state championships
C. Number of state championship game appearances
D. Number of decades appearing in the state tournament

The number listed for each school is the average state ranking for the 4 categories combined. For example, Portsmouth is 2nd in state appearances, 4th in state championships, 3rd in state championship game appearances, and 2nd in number of decades appearing in the state tournament. The average state ranking of those 4 categories for Portsmouth is 2.75. Here is the complete list with each school's average ranking.

1. Canton McKinley............2.00
2. Portsmouth..................2.75
3. Middletown..................2.75
4. Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph........3.50
5. Delphos St.John's...........4.25
6. Columbus East..............4.50
Akron St.Vincent St.Mary........4.50
8. Zanesville...................5.00
9. Dayton Dunbar.............5.50
10. Cleveland East Tech.....5.75
11. Newark....................6.00
Hamilton..................6.00
13. Berlin Hiland.............6.25
14. Columbus Linden McKinley........6.50
Dayton Stivers............6.50
Kettering Alter...........6.50
17. Cincinnati Moeller.......7.25
Ottawa-Glandorf.........7.25
Toledo Scott..............7.25
St.Henry...................7.25
Mansfield St.Peter's.....7.25
22. Dayton Jefferson........7.50
Dayton Chaminade-Julienne......7.50

Akron Central-Hower and Columbus Wehrle were not included on this list because they are not in existence any longer. If they were, they both would be on this list, but not in the top 10.

PROUD TO BE A TROJAN!! PROUD OF OUR BASKETBALL TRADITION!!

[trojandave]

Another player to keep an eye on that I did not previously mention is Grant Underwood, who will be a 6-3 junior. Grant played well on the JV team last year, and is best suited to play the 4 slot.

[Whs95fan]

Another player to keep an eye on that I did not previously mention is Grant Underwood, who will be a 6-3 junior. Grant played well on the JV team last year, and is best suited to play the 4 slot.

Remember you all had a Trey Underwood around 6-6 a couple years ago, presuming those two are related.

[trojandave]

WHS95FAN: Tre was a huge part of the 2011 Final Four team. Grant is a different type of player, more fitted to a wing slot, whereas Tre was a power presence in the paint and on the glass.

[trojandave]

To date, the Trojans have lost only 1 game in summer play.......that was to Lynchburg Clay 48-44 in the Waverly Shootout Tournament........Portsmouth did win its pool in that event, though, defeating Waverly, Peebles, and Huntington Ross. PHS is undefeated in the Shawnee State Summer League, so far defeating Greenup County, Rock Hill, and Lewis County. There is a scheduled scrimmage at 1 PM Wednesday against Albany Alexander at PHS. The Trojans split with Ashland and swept Russell earlier this month at Russell High School.

This Saturday will be a rugged test for the Trojans as they head to Dayton to take on some excellent competition........play will begin at 9:30 AM and the teams PHS will play include D1 Centerville and D1 Clayton Northmont. There are 4 games scheduled at the University of Dayton RecPlex sports facility. Portsmouth most likely will be without Sky Oliver and Alex Dickerson.

[trojandave]

Yesterday, the Trojans won the first 4 quarters vs. Albany Alexander, with the Spartans winning the fifth quarter. So far this summer, I have seen improvement from everyone that has played, but especially Sky Oliver, Hunter Gibson, and Isaiah Lisath. I have yet to see anyone adequately guard Kyre Allison, as he has repeatedly taken the ball to the basket for layups or drawing fouls. Kyre is going to shoot a bunch of FT's this year, and if he can knock them down, will have a big year offensively. Kyre is also an excellent rebounder for his 6-1 frame. 6-0 Oliver has taken his game to a higher level, and he is making good decisions with the ball as well. 6-0 Lisath is the team's best outside shooter, and will be valuable against opponents' zone defenses. Hunter Gibson has shown the ability to make plays in the paint at both ends of the court, and he uses his 6-3, 210 LB body to box out for rebounds. Alex Dickerson stroked a couple of 3's yesterday, and even though he is 6-2, easily plays 6-4 with his jumping ability. Alex is proving more and more to be a dependable rebounder along with Gibson, something the Trojans will really need this coming season. 5-9 sophomore Zach Delotell is fun to watch, as his high motor creates positive plays at both ends. 5-10 Kahlil Lattimore is a very good defender, and has the capability to hit the 3 pointer. 6-1 Alex Grashel will give PHS another post player to complement Gibson and Dickerson. 6-3 junior Micah Williams could possibly move into the mix of post players.

Portsmouth played in the Rio Grande Shootout today, playing South Gallia, Nitro, WV, Parkersburg South, and 1 other team. They will travel to Dayton on Saturday to take on some excellent competition. The Trojans, though, will be down some key players for Dayton.

[trojandave]

The Trojans went 2-2 at Rio Grande today, losing close games to Parkersburg South and Boyd County, and winning by double digits over Gallia Academy and Nitro (WV). They played 3 games earlier this week, 4 today, and will play 4 more on Saturday at Dayton.

[trojandave]

The Trojans were down 6 of their top 8 players at Dayton, and as a result went 0-4 against Columbus Africentric, Clayton Northmont, Toledo St.Francis, and Centerville. The positive from this was that a number of freshmen and sophomores got to see a lot of playing time. Portsmouth plays in the Shawnee State League for the next 2 weeks, and also will participate in the Bannon Park Classic on the weekend of July 5-7.

[trojandave]

The Trojans will be playing at 5:45 vs. the winner of Marietta vs. Piketon on Friday at the Bannon Park Classic. The complete schedule is posted on the Bannon Park Classic thread.

[LetsGoPSU]

wish I could be there

[wipala]

For you posters that are going to the Classic,,I have a favor,,,,would you please post
some info on the games,,and the ribs....Was there last year from Az and I can let you
know the games and the atmosphere are well worth the time to get to the park...
Hope it does not rain on the finals again though...
wipala

[PTrojan59]

Anyone have a schedule for the upcoming season ? Maybe some notable games even. Not to take any credit away from the football team, it's improved tremendously, but it doesn't look like we will be making the playoffs so our hoops will be a full go & that's always good. Earlier in the summer there was a rumor about a PG possibly transferring in, any news on that ? Can't wait for basketball season. Go Trojans !