Portsmouth Trojans 2011-2012

[bballin]

How did the scrimmage turn out today at Kettering Fairmont?

Was wondering the same thing ??

[trojan7]

My bad was busy with family things. The Trojans played 6 quarters 8 minute stopped clocked. 2 quarters or a half vs each team

Game 1 vs Franklin (D2) Loss 23-24
Franklin had around 7 seniors (2 6'6 twins who are going to Northern Ky) 3 juniors and a freshman (guard who has offers from Dayton and Xavier already). Trojans shots weren't falling which seemed to be story of the day but they played very hard on defense and had a chance to win it at the buzzer but a 12 foot shot from the baseline rimmed out.

Game 2 vs Kettering Fairmont (D1) Loss 24-29
Trojans led after one 14-11 and seemed to really hitting the shots but after the first they had a period where they went cold and Fairmont made a good run. Fairmont is very solid ball club with good guards and seemed to really attack the glass.

Game 3 vs Xenia (D1) Loss 27-33
Xenia was the most athletic team I saw today. Very quick and great size across the board. Had a tough attitude and battled for EVERYTHING. They pressed the Trojans the whole game and got a couple turnovers but I thought the press break did a good job. Xenia had a PG who was probably 6'2 and was lightning fast and had great vision and handles.

JV played 6 16 minute running clock halves and their record was 3-1-2. Very good after their first loss was the first game to Xenia JV and they shot lights out and won 37-18. The Trojans turned around and beat them the second time. Also I know one of the ties a kid from the other team made a buzzer beater to tie it and i wanna say the other tie was the same.

In all there was a lot of great hoops action this morning. Even though the Trojans didn't come away winning they competed and came back to take a lead or tie in all three varisty scrimmages. They also got to see a LOT of experienced ball clubs and this will only help them as they go into the season. Fairmont's arena was AWESOME and they were great hosts. Still a few weeks until the opener and I feel the Trojans came away with some things to be positive about and hang their hat on and also learned where they need more work on areas or things they need to polish up. Trojans will be back in action at 9am at Minford vs the falcons and Notre Dame. That will be the last scrimmage before SW Dec. 6th.

GO TROJANS!!

[teamworkwins]

Look for the Trojans to have another good year. Still have lots of good players from last years team with experience.

[biggdowgg]

with the addition of Mcbee at Minford,they are a solid team...

[trojandave]

Thanks, trojan7 for the info on the scrimmages............I went to Trent Arena in Dayton last year (Kettering Fairmont's home gym) for the Flyin' to the Hoop Classic to watch some outstanding teams, including seeing Taft lose their only game of the year to Hamilton Southeastern of Indiana..........great place to watch high school basketball, with seats all the way around.

Good move to bring up freshmen Sky Oliver and Alex Dickerson to the JV team........it will make them quite a bit stronger.

[art_vandelay]

tobias: us Webster fans enjoy swanker's enthusiam, but he would pick Webster to destroy the Miami Heat if they'd ever play!

As for the game itself, it should be a good one, but Webster will be breaking in a new point guard and the Trojans' pressure/athleticism could cause the Jeeps' young backcourt trouble. Either way, I like that this game is becoming an annual early season non-conference game for both schools and has been competitive over the years.*

[Go Bucks]

The Trojans lost two good senior bball players and leaders. With that being said, the Trojans will learn to play together and have a solid year.

[Trojan_FB_Alum]

Didn't get a paper today, is there a link to it on the PDT website, couldn't find one. I know they had the football preview on there

[bbjunky81]

Noticed Wayne Evans isn't listed on the roster you posted? Why?

[Steve]

roster link
http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/po ... roster.htm

[ohiostbucks99]

not use to seeing so many seniors on one team

[dreamweaver]

Wow, sounds like Portsmouth is gonna be tough this year too. Is Portsmouth becoming a bball school instead of football?

[LetsGoPSU]

Portsmouth basketball history matches any program in the State of Ohio

[trojandave]

Love to hear Coach Collins talking about going for another state title........that's the way it should be at Portsmouth.........that should always be the goal with 4 state championship banners already on the wall.

As far as Portsmouth "becoming" a basketball school, historically basketball has long been the Trojans most successful sport.........football doesn't come close to matching the tradition of the hoops history. PHS has made 10 Final 4 appearances, with 14 state appearances overall.........what's remarkable is that since the OHSAA started the state tournament in 1923, the Trojans have missed the Final 4 in only 2 decades........the 1950's and 2000's........that's 8 out of 10 decades. Only Canton McKinley has been in more, 9 of 10.

Ranking Portsmouth against the nearly 800 high schools in the state of Ohio, PHS is tied for 4th with 4 state titles, with only Middletown, Columbus East, and Akron St.Vincent St.Mary having more, and only Akron St.Vincent St.Mary, Canton McKinley, and Middletown have been in more state championship games. The Trojans have a very fine 11-6 record in the Final 4, and a 10-5 mark in regional championship games.

One amazing statistic is that between 1947--1991, Portsmouth recorded only 5 losing seasons, despite playing in the Greater Ohio League up until the mid 70's. Another amazing statistic is that between 1987--1991, the Trojans racked up an incredible 116-14 mark..........102 games over .500!!..........with 1 state title, 1 state runnerup, 5 district titles, and a regional runnerup.

The decade of the 2000's was the worst in Portsmouth history..........the Trojans went 52-100, which was the first (and hopefully the only) losing decade in PHS history. The Trojans had 7 straight losing seasons from 2003-2009, which was also a school record.

Finally in 2011, the Trojans broke a 10 year drought of not having won a district title, which was another school record..........Portsmouth previously had beaten Warren 65-54 for the D2 district title in 2001, and in 2011 turned the trick with a 61-41 win over Fairland in the D3 district championship...........PHS has garnered a SE District record 35 district titles, 19 more than 2nd place Wheelersburg.

The decade of 2010-2019 has started out well..........Coach Eugene Collins took the reigns as head coach in 2010, and since has guided the Red and Blue to a very fine 33-12 record, a Final 4 appearance in 2011, the school's 10th overall. This year looks to be another very good year, and Portsmouth basketball should be strong for at least the next 4 years with some excellent freshmen and 8th graders coming up. There will be some growing pains with the 2012-2013 Trojans, as this year's varsity has all seniors and only 1 junior (Jayllen Carter).

I think that the staff Coach Collins has assembled may be one of the best ever at PHS, with Jim Arnzen and Shane Rhea as varsity assistants, former Ironton standout Ty Davis the freshmen coach, Portsmouth East star Matt Ketter guiding the 8th grade team, while Chris Lowery coaches the 7th grade boys..........Walt Monroe has been a great addition to the staff as well, with his many years of coaching experience at East High School.........Walt helps out with all the teams. Former Trojan great Darnell Lisath is helping out on the JV and freshmen levels, and his intensity carries over to the younger kids.

[trojandave]

Portsmouth 7th and 8th grade teams are both off to 4-0 starts!! Good job, junior Trojans!!

JV Trojans are 4-0 for the first time in a LONG TIME!!.........JV's are starting 2 freshmen, Sky Oliver and Alex Dickerson.

Despite losing 12 seniors off the 2011-2012 Trojans, the next 5 years looks really good for Trojan basketball!!

[bballin]

I agree trojandave , Portsmouth will just reload next year they have some very good talent coming up the pipeline in PTown.. The inexperience at the Varsity level will hurt them early in the season but they will be contenders again by midseason..

[trojandave]

Haven't been on here this week.........here is a few notes about the 2011-2012 season to date:

1. If Portsmouth is able to beat Russell (KY) Friday, Coach Eugene Collins will record his 40th win as the Trojan head coach, and it will give him a 40-14 overall record with a Final 4 appearance in 2011. He would be the third coach in PHS history to reach 40 wins in less than 55 games..........Joe Suboticki went 27-1 and 21-4 in his first two years (88 and 89) for the best start ever by a Trojan hoops coach, and Tom Smith recorded a fabulous 40-8 mark compiled in the 1982 and 1983 seasons.

2. If Portsmouth is able to beat Russell (KY) Friday, it would guarantee the Trojans a better record at the halfway mark than last year's 6-4 record.........a PHS win Friday would move the Trojans to 7-2, with Gallia Academy coming to PHS gymnasium next Friday. Last year's Trojans reeled off 15 wins in a row after that 6-4 start to finish 21-5 with a loss in the state semifinals to Cleveland Central Catholic.

3. Portsmouth's 63-32 win over Wheelersburg on Dec. 23 was the largest margin of victory ever by the Trojans over the Pirates........previous lopsided wins by PHS over the Burg included an 80-60 win in 1982 and a 77-55 win in 1974. Portsmouth now leads the series 17-16 after winning its 5th in a row vs. WHS.........the Pirates had won 10 of the previous 12 meetings prior to PHS's current winning streak. Portsmouth is 4-3 all-time vs. the Pirates in tournament meetings, including a 45-39 win over WHS in the regional semifinals last year.

4. Portsmouth's 45-43 win over Chillicothe gave the Trojans a 42-41 lead in the all-time series, and was the Trojans' first win at CHS since 1998.........the Cavaliers had won 14 in a row vs. PHS (home or away) until the Trojans snapped that streak with a 52-42 win last year at PHS.

5. Portsmouth's 61-56 loss at Warren was the first time in 3 years that the home team had won the game..........the Warriors had won at PHS the last 2 years, while the Trojans won on the Warren hardwood the last 2 seasons, including an impressive 75-58 win last year.

6. Dion McKinley's 32 points vs. Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy was the high point mark for any Trojans this season..........last year, Wayne Evans had games of 35 vs. Wheelersburg (regular season) and an outstanding tally of 39 vs. Marietta. Craig Tubbs, the all-time leading scorer at PHS, recorded 39 points vs. Russell his senior year of 1979. Larry Hisle holds the all-time mark of 41 points scored vs. Wilmington in 1965.

7. There is a touch of irony in Portsmouth having 12 seniors on its 2011-2012 roster.......in 1961, Portsmouth fielded a team with all seniors with the exception of 1 junior........Bill Parker.........and the Trojans won the Class AA state title that year, beating Urbana 50-44 in the championship. This year's varsity Trojans have only 1 junior, that being Jayllen Carter, who has scored double figures in his last 2 games off the bench. In 1962, after losing virtually all its roster, Portsmouth recorded an all-time worst mark of 1-17..........don't think it will happen next year, given what we have coming up.........in fact, I guarantee it!!

8. Portsmouth's record since 1913 (since official records have been kept) stands at 1,331 wins, 718 losses for a winning pct. of almost 65%........the Trojans have posted 17 seasons of at least 20 wins, including last year's 21-5 mark...........PHS has won at least 15 games an incredible 36 times, and looks to be well on the way to making it 37 with this year's team. The last time a Trojan team had back to back seasons of at least 15 wins was in 2001 and 2002, when PHS recorded seasons of 19-5 and 15-8.

9. Portsmouth's JV team is a very good 5-2, which is the best mark for a Trojans JV team in quite some time.........Coach Shane Rhea does a fine job with these kids, and the decision to bring up freshmen Sky Oliver and Alex Dickerson has paid huge dividends for the team. The 7th grade Trojans are undefeated, while the 8th grade has lost only 2 games. The freshmen team has won 3-4 games but obviously have been affected by the promotion of Oliver and Dickerson to the JV squad.

10. Portsmouth's game vs. Russell (KY) on Friday kindles up memories of the OKAC (Ohio-Kentucky Athletic Conference)..........if my memory serves me right, the last OKAC opponent that the Trojans played was Ashland in 2002, with the Tomcats winning 65-64 at PHS on a Jeremy Howell 3 pointer at the buzzer. During the OKAC years, 1986-1993, PHS won the league in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991.........Boyd County won the OKAC in 1986, while Ashland won in 1992, and I believe Boyd or Ashland won the final OKAC year in 1993. Portsmouth posted a winning record vs. every team in the OKAC during its stay in the league.

[trojandave]

Here is a list of memorable buzzer beaters/clutch shots by the Trojans in the last 40 years........not necessarily listed in order of importance.

1. Jason Taylor's 3 pointer vs. Cincinnati Forest Park with 15 seconds to play in the 1990 regional final....Trojans won in 2OT 90-80.
2. Jason Taylor's 3 pointer at the buzzer at Ashland(KY) in 1989 to win 57-56.
3. Eugene Collins' 15 foot baseline jumper at the buzzer to beat Columbus East 61-60.
4. Jeff Lisath's 15 foot jumper at the buzzer vs. Wheelersburg in the 1978 sectional at Valley HS to send the game into OT, which the Trojans won 54-52.
5. Craig Tubbs' corner jump shot vs. Washington CH in the 1978 district final to send the game into OT, which the Trojans won 56-54.
6. Craig Tubbs' foul line jumper with a second to play over his cousin Joe Glassgow to beat Chillicothe 51-50 in 1979.
7. Daryl Lisath's 3 pointer bank shot at the buzzer vs. Ironton at the 1989 South Webster sectional to send the game into OT, which the Trojans won 63-55.
8. Jim Murray's 2 FT's vs. Cleveland Cathedral Latin in the state championship game of 1978 with 20 seconds to play, sealing the Trojans' 3rd state title with a 63-62 win.
9. Wayne Evans' middle of the lane teardrop shot with 4 seconds to play in the 2011 regional championship vs. Chesapeake, giving the Trojans a 69-68 win and a Final 4 berth.
10. Wayne Evans' basket and FT with under 2 minutes to play, giving the Trojans a lead for good in the 2011 regional semifinal vs. Wheelersburg in a 45-39 win.
11. Andrew Newman's layup with seconds to play in the 2004 sectional championship vs. Albany Alexander, giving the Trojans a 59-57 win.
12. Larry Berry's steal and layup with seconds to play, giving the Trojans a 58-56 win over Washington CH in the 2001 district semifinal.
13. Kirk McMahon's baseline jumper vs. Columbus Mifflin in 1979, giving the Trojans a 57-55 win and keeping the Trojans undefeated.
14. Larry Johnson's 2 FT's with seconds to play vs. Columbus Central in 1981, giving the Trojans a 70-69 win.

[trojandave]

Shots that didn't fall, giving the Trojans a heartstopping win:

1. Rick Teeters' top of the key jumper at the buzzer in the 1980 regional championship, which the Trojans won 49-48 vs. Waverly.
2. New Lexington's shot which hung on the rim and fell off at the buzzer in the 1990 district semifinal, which the Trojans won 58-57.
3. Blake Barnes' 30 foot 3 pointer which preserved a 65-64 Trojan win over South Point in the 2011 sectional at Jackson HS.
4. Marcus Dunn's 3 pointer at the buzzer which gave the 2011-2012 Trojans a 45-43 win and the first W at Chillicothe since 1998.
5. Rod Spradlin's missed front end of a 1 and 1 in the 1978 sectional championship with 6 seconds to play, allowing Jeff Lisath to make his jumper at the buzzer to send the game into OT, which the Trojans won 54-52.
6. Dayton Dunbar's Kirk Taylor missed 2 FT's with a second to play, preserving a 62-61 Trojan victory in 1987............Dunbar went on to win the AAA state title and finished #24 in the nation.

[trojandave]

Portsmouth wasn't ranked last year until the final poll.........the Trojans finished 10th with a 16-4 record.........only PHS and Cincinnati Taft (#1) were ranked among the 4 teams that qualified for the D3 state........Cleveland Central Catholic and Africentric were not ranked.

I think the Trojans have a good chance to be ranked eventually if they keep winning.