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

[trojandave]

Walt Mannon was the player who played at Northern Arizona.......I believe he graduated from PHS in 1967 and was a fine player for the Trojans......he had two sons who played for Portsmouth......Byron Mannon was a 6-7 post player who played for the 21-4 district champions, while Damond was the starting point guard as a sophomore on the 1990 state runnerup team........Damond averaged 22 PPG his senior year in 1992 and went on to play for Baylor.

The Trojans 1961 state championship team came just two years after 3 straight losing seasons which at the time were the most consecutive losing seasons in PHS history until the recent string of 7 straight losing seasons from 2003-2009. The Trojans were 15-6 in 1960, losing to Canton Timken in the regional semis, and Timken went on to win the regional.

It looks like the Trojans of 2010-2011 could be a special team just two years removed from that 7 year losing stretch........just how good we will see......but there is a lot of buzz about this team in the community........of course the decision regarding Andrew Bendolph will have a very large impact on how good the Trojans turn out to be.

[Jeff Lisath]

Dave, I thought it was Walt, he was quite a player, he could jump, and shoot with both hands with tremendous accuracy. We had some great battles at Bannon Park when I was in High School.

I love the History of Trojan basketball, there's a lot of interesting things outside of the 4 State Championships. I agree with you regarding this years team, should be an exciting year for the Trojans. I think we played 3 or 4 times this summer and what I observed at the Bannon Park Classic was pretty special. I wish Andrew and his family the best during this eligibility process; he is definitely an impact player that makes the Trojans go.

[trojandave]

Talked to Coach Collins yesterday and he wants to honor the 1961 and 1931 team.......he reminded me that it is the 80th anniversary of Portsmouth's 1ST state championship team.......there could be some T-shirts printed up, or something else to remember these great Trojan teams.

The 1931 team went 20-2, beat Akron West 16-15 in the state semis, then beat Ohio's all-time winningest program, Canton McKinley in the final, 20-19.......the 1931 team was the second PHS team to record at least 20 wins, while the 1934 state runnerup Trojans posted the third 20 win season with a 20-5 mark.

Went back in my records and looked at all the years that ended in the number 1.......historically, Portsmouth has never had a losing season in a year that ended in 1 and quite often posted a very good record........here are the records of the "1" years:

2001: 19-5 Regional semifinals
1991: 22-3 Regional runnerup
1981: 20-4 District runnerup
1971: 13-6 Lost in first round of the sectional
1961: 22-3 State Champions in Class AA (Big School)
1951: 18-4 Regional semifinals
1941: 12-8 State Sweet 16 (there was no regional at that time)
1931: 20-2 State Champions in Class AA (Big School)

This year ends in a "1"........for those that believe in karma........should be a good year for the basketball Trojans.

[jgordon0315]

Dave....you're crazy!!!! lol

[wipala]

Jeff,
Thanks for the info,,,remember all so well that season. The strange part of it was the 3 losses, all were not close,,,except maybe the Garfield game,,Middletown beat us pretty good but we buried them by 16 in our return match,,the Garfield games were both under 10 points and tuff to the end..Ashland just buried us,,the final was only by 13 but the game was never in doubt...in 1961 Ashland was still basically an all white school and IMO our team got some really strange call against us that night as we had an intergated team...Ashland was an awesome team but I would have loved to PHS play them in Ohio that year...the neat part about this team was that the prior year we were 15-6 and you could tell then that 60-61 was going to be special, just did not know how special...wipala walt....btw, who was the PHS player that went to Northren Arizona to play basketball?

Walt Mannon???[/quote]
Thanks Jeff,,,the reason I asked this question...at NAU in the Walkup dome,,,the football stadium the have a wall of fame on the interior of the stadium and there is a pic of Walt Mannon and he made all league and is in the Hall of Fame at NAU. I thought I knew the name
but was not sure,,,,I graduated from PHS in 1964 and seems I remember him playing with a broken arm or wrist, he could leap to the roof,,,We have been in AZ for over 30 years and attend a NAU game once in a blue moon....Thanks again for the info...wipalawalt

[trojandave]

The decision by the OHSAA regarding Andrew Bendolph's eligibility will be announced this week.......there are 3 possible outcomes:

1. He will be ruled eligible.
2. He will be ruled ineligible.
3. The OHSAA will delay the decision again.

If Number 1 is the final decision, then Andrew will stay at PHS.......that's what I've been told.

[TrojanXplosion]

So if he is ruled ineligible he won't stay at Portsmouth?

[biggdowgg]

FalconFan

I would guess, if anything but number one, he wil go elswhere so he will be able to play basketball.

[trojandave]

FalconFan: The answer to your question is no, and I understand why.......it wouldn't benefit him at all to stay at PHS while ineligible with basketball season getting close.......this being his senior year. There are possible other options out there for him, one of those being playing out of state.

[TrojanXplosion]

Wow. I hope it works out so he can stay and play at Portsmouth. They have a chance to make this season pretty special.

[rockyraccoon]

FalconFan: The answer to your question is no, and I understand why.......it wouldn't benefit him at all to stay at PHS while ineligible with basketball season getting close.......this being his senior year. There are possible other options out there for him, one of those being playing out of state.

TD, why is it when you mention "out of state" your post stays on here but the "two" posts I have made about playing "across the big creek" disappear?

[El Ray]

Zade Whitley HAS enrolled at PHS and will be a nice addition to the Trojans... for the website moderators this is not a rumor it is a fact!

[wipala]

Zade Whitley HAS enrolled at PHS and will be a nice addition to the Trojans... for the website moderators this is not a rumor it is a fact!

for those of us that live way out west, who is Mr. Whitley and what does
he bring to the table...thank you,,,,,wipalawalt

[TribeManiac10]

Zade Whitley HAS enrolled at PHS and will be a nice addition to the Trojans... for the website moderators this is not a rumor it is a fact!

for those of us that live way out west, who is Mr. Whitley and what does
he bring to the table...thank you,,,,,wipalawalt

Beyond energizing their track team I was wondering the same thing. Anyone have a height, position, etc.

[trojan7]

He's about 6'2 maybe 6'3. Quick player and tough on D and played with LJ Adams, Dion McKinley and the other juniors back in 7th grade at Portsmouth when they went undefeated. Should make a GREAT 3 player for PHS. Played varsity at Burg as a freshman and even started if I remember correctly.

[trojan7]

I could be wrong on the height but I think he was about 6' or 6'1 when I last saw him as a freshman and figured he has grown an inch or two.

[rockyraccoon]

Watched him play AAU ball in 8th or 9th grade. A year younger than the rest of the team but he could light up the scoreboard. He can pull up and pop the three with a man right in his face. When he is hot, it's 7 or 8 in a row. (he did have cold spells though). When they came out to guard him, he could drive the lane. Good ball handler, good passer, good all around player. He did'n't play his sophomore year at the Burg (and I won't speculate on this thread as to why). So if the year off hasn't set him back, he is going to be a great addition to PHS basketball, and I am pretty sure he is a good footballer as well.

[bucki4life]

Zaide is a great kid- he played ball on my sons AAU team a couple of years ago. He comes from a great family and he will be a flat out stud for PHS. Great shooter and defender. He moved to Virgina over the summer so this is a little bit of a shock that he is back but I am glad he is back in the area. My guess is that he is probably around 6-1 and he would be an instant starter for anyone in the area. Merry Christmas Portsmouth you just got one heck of a player and a very good young man on top of that! This addition just made PHS a ton better and if Bendolph is allowed to play this team will destroy people- easily the best team in southern Ohio, it will be a two team battle for best in the Div. III between Chesapeak and Portsmouth because I think one of these two will be in the state final four.

[trojandave]

rockyraccoon: I don't why your posts disappeared but I would PM a moderator and try to find out.

I had heard about Zaide coming to Portsmouth a couple of weeks ago, but didn't want to say anything until it became official........I think this is a very nice addition to the Trojans' already talented roster........and like trojan7 stated, he will be a good fit at the 3, but from my understanding can also play the 1 or 2 as well........I remember when Zaide played on that undefeated 7th grade team that won at Chillicothe in OT in the very last game........Wayne Evans made two FT's to send the game in OT, then the Trojans won it.

I would love to see Andrew stay because he started as a Trojan, and I also just enjoy watching the kid play..........his father was a great Trojan and I just think that Portsmouth is the best fit for him, and he can secure a college scholarship playing at PHS just as he could anywhere else.

[bucki4life]

Zaide is much better as a 2 - he can run the point in a pinch.