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

[trojandave]

Moses Guthrie: It may be next season that Portsmouth and Chesapeake could meet in the tournament at some point........probably won't be in the sectional, though, since both teams should have very good regular season records. The Trojans' 77-70 win last season was the first in 8 regular season meetings between the two.......PHS did beat the Panthers in the 2007 sectional at Rock Hill.

[trojandave]

Just received a glowing report yesterday on how Wayne Evans and Dion McKinley are doing on the AAU circuit.......their team won the tournament in Charlotte, NC this past weekend........Wayne and Dion had 20 and 21 points in the championship game.......they are playing on the same team as Chesapeake's Austin McMasters, and he is doing very well also........Dion has been a rebounding terror, while Wayne has been playing suffocating defense..........Andrew Bendolph also continues to do well with his AAU squad.......can't help but get excited about how these kids are dedicated to basketball and how it should translate into a great 2010-2011 season for the Portsmouth Trojans.

[wipala]

Just have to keep them level headed..when they start readilng all the press they should receive Coach will have to keep them focused..This upcoming season could be a real special season....trojandave keep after them and I am so looking forward to the posts
wipalawalt

[85inside]

With the Trojans talent coming back, they will be extremely tough in the 2010-2011 season. In my opinion, a definite favorite for a #1 seed in our district.

[trojandave]

wipala: You make a good point about the kids staying focused........they know they are going to have a very good team, but they have to come to play every night.......especially on the DEFENSIVE END of the court!!........that is what lost the Valley game.......

At the same time, though, I am not shy about saying how good next year's Trojans can be.......the kids that play for Portsmouth High School know that our fans have expectations from what we have accomplished in the past.......and the talk in town is about how Portsmouth is talented enough to not just make the Final 4, but win it all.......we want to HANG ANOTHER BANNER in our gym, and the WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY is there.......it won't be there every year.

These kids embrace that........they know that they underachieved in the tournament last year, and are itching to make amends for it.........I have talked to quite a few of them and they believe that next year could really be special. The return of Bendolph to Portsmouth is a HUGE addition to the Trojans........I probably wouldn't be talking state if he hadn't come back.........but he is a proven big time player at the point, and he could be the one who puts the Trojans in great position to be playing at the Schott come March.

85inside: Your Fighting Tigers are loaded also........and one big difference between Ironton and Portsmouth is that IHS followed up an SEOAL title with a great tourney run.......while we were knocked out in the sectional. I look for the Tigers to once again play that suffocating defense........a couple of kids will have to step up and play scoring roles to make up for the loss of Tim Kochendorfer and JP Taylor.

[trojandave]

I played with Dion McKinley and Duke Edwards last night at Mound Park, and Dion continues to get better and better with his mid range jumper........the kid is oozing with talent.......keep an eye on Duke.......many don't know about him, but this kid is 6-2, 170 LBS with muscle and a ton of athletic ability........he overall basketball skills have improved to the point where I believe he can really help us on the varsity......especially at the 3 spot. He will be only a junior next year. I think he will challenge 6-3 junior Mason Jordan for playing time, with both being close in size and fitted for the 3 position. Mason could also play the 4 if needed. Right now I have Seth Bratchett projected to start at the 3, and I think he will be a solid player in that role for the Trojans.

[trojandave]

I just happened to notice that Adolphus Washington, Orlando Berry, and Dwayne Stafford all return for the Cincinnati Taft Senators......they were sophomores......there were a lot of people, including myself, that thought Taft would win the 2010 D3 state title.......they lost to Bishop Ready in the regional finals at Dayton, but with those 3 kids back they have to be one of the favorites to win it all come March.

[trojandave]

There could be as many as 200 schools participating in the holiday basketball event in Orlando........schools are grouped according to size and then the games are played at several sites.......but the event will be based at Disneyworld........considering that there are 6 classes in Florida high school basketball, Portsmouth would probably be a 3A or at the largest a 4A school........I would love to see the Trojans match up with defending 3A state champion Fort Myers.......28-5 this past year and have 3 starters back........in talking to some kids, they are interested in playing Winter Park, which has Doc Rivers' son Austin who is returning after averaging 24 PPG for the 6A state champions........other top teams in the Orlando area include Dr. Phillips and Edgewater.

Coach Collins has put in a lot of time planning this event and raising funds for it, and plans to have the kids enjoy the Orlando area in addition to some hoops vs. excellent competition on the court.

The games will be played on Monday, December 27th and then again on Wednesday, December 29th and Thursday, December 30th.........the team will have on off day on that Tuesday which will give them a chance to see the Orlando area.

[trojandave]

Look for the Trojans to be sporting some new uniforms next year.......they already have home whites and road reds, but there will be road blues also for the 2010-2011 season.

[trojandave]

With last year's varsity assistant Tyson Phillips taking over as head coach of the PHS varsity girls, there is an opening for a varsity assistant........there is a BIG NAME surfacing as the frontrunner........a former varsity head coach with a tremendous record and has coached as an assistant previously at PHS.......nothing has been finalized yet........but if this individual were to join the Trojan staff, it would be a huge plus for Coach Collins.

Good luck to Tyson in his new position.......I watched him at the boys' practices last year and he is an excellent teacher of the game.

[Men of Troy]

Trojan Dave,
Your last post has raised my curiousity. Some names that immediately come to mind to fit the description you listed are: Joe Suboticki..but he hasn't been an asst at PHS before, Jeff Lisath...but he isn't a "former" head coach, Mike Lovenguth, and Mike Hughes. Am I in the ball park or out in left field on this one? Thanks

[biggdowgg]

hmm,has me wondering to, was Jimmy Rhea ever an assistant, or Tom Smith?

[Moses Guthrie]

Jimmy Rhea was an assistant for many years before becoming head coach at PHS.. Makes sense that he could join this staff, alongside his son Shane...

[LetsGoPSU]

Dave could and probably does run circles aropund most that play!

[trojandave]

Guys, I would love to name who the individual is........but I don't want to reveal who it is until the decision is final........but I will say that the names mentioned are "in the ballpark".

[trojandave]

Portsmouth still may participate in the Ohio University Shootout, or the Marshall University Shootout.........the PHS summer league will be starting on the first Saturday in June......an all day affair, with each participating team playing 4 games........right now, about 8 teams are signed up to play, including Piketon, Russell(KY), Northwest, East, Lewis County, and several others. After Saturday's opening day, teams will play on Mondays with each school playing 2 games. PHS will also be holding its own shootout in late June, a one day affair........teams to be determined.

Open gym continues to have a steady number of kids showing up........there have been a good number of varsity kids playing, including Andrew Bendolph, Wayne Evans, Dion McKinley, Seth Bratchett, Mason Jordan, LJ Adams, and Duke Edwards........freshmen Jacob Cook and Josh Clark have been regulars, as has 8th grader Cody Stapleton.

I am impressed with how Bendolph and Evans work together........they are totally unselfish and make each other better players........both play tough on-ball D.......and I love to see them pushing the ball up the court. They will give the Trojans one tough tandem in the backcourt.

[trojandave]

Talked to Coach Collins today.........he gave me some info on the Florida trip........I looked up the roster of teams for the event (Dec.26-31) in Orlando........there will be 125 schools from 24 states and Ontario participating, with several Ohio schools in addition to Portsmouth.......Salem, Westerville North, Macedonia Nordonia, Madeira, Norton, Goshen, and Zanesville Maysville. The Trojans' schedule for the event has yet to be determined, but the organizers group teams according to enrollment.

To look at the complete roster of teams, you can Google KSAevents.com.

[trojandave]

West and Boyd County(KY) will also play in the Portsmouth Summer League, joining Russell(KY), Lewis County(KY), Piketon, Northwest, and East........the league will start on June 5th with play beginning around 9AM with the last games beginning around 4PM. On that day games are planned to be 20 minute halves, and teams will take an hour off between games.

[trojandave]

Tre Underwood played Tuesday at open gym and looked really dominant in the paint.......he looks to be a legitimate 6-4 and has gained some muscle........he was getting some excellent feeds from Andrew Bendolph and Wayne Evans........Tre played some against former Wheelersburg standout and current Marshall player Cam Miller and did very well vs. the 6-8 Miller.

[trojandave]

Coach Collins could know by June or July who the Trojans will play in Florida......PHS does open the regular season at South Webster.........with Chillicothe's 6-5 1/2 Serbian exchange student (AVG. 26.3 PPG.......Chillicothe Cavaliers thread on SEOPS), the Cavaliers will be a serious contender for the SEOAL title, which I believe will be a 3 team race with Portsmouth, Chillicothe, and Warren........the Warriors went 16-4 and return 6-4 senior Grant Venham and 6-2 guard Austin Cunningham, who scored 25 vs. the Trojans at PHS last season........Chillicothe also returns 6-8 Malik London and 6-5 Jalen Ragland to go along with the Serbian kid.

The rest of the league will feature new coaches at Logan (Helber), Jackson (McKinniss), and Gallia Academy (Moore)......only Marietta will have its coach returning.......JD Secrest.......the 2010-2011 season will be the Tigers' last in the SEOAL.......they will be moving to the ECOL to join New Philadelphia, Dover, Cambridge, and Zanesville.