... have to say it - Portsmouth is the best team I have seen this year based on their performance tonight vs a very good Warren Warriors squad - WOW! 11 straight wins, finishing #2 alone in the SEOAL , dismantling Warren at the WarriorDome ... very close game , no more than 6 points either way through 3 quarters ... Warren battled even at 48 on the strength 2 three balls by Tyler Ward in the 3rd ... the Warriors went up 50-48 to start the 4th inside buckets by Venham and Cummingham ... with 6 minutes to play Coach Collins hit the nitrous oxide lever on his Trojans as PHS rained 3's down on Warren - Evans (1),Whitley(2) treys started a Portsmouth run that didn't stop until PHS had taken total control with a 21-2 run and pushed the Portsmouth lead to 69-50 ... game, set and match ...
Portsmouth 75 Warren 58 a final ...
... Warren official "Unofficial" Napkin Stats...
Scoring ... Cunningham 14, Venham 13, Tyler Ward 11, Winland 6, Leffingwell 4, Hastie 2,Knost 2, French 3, Patton 3
3 Pointers ... 5/16 ... Ward 3, French 1, Patton 1
FTs ... 3/5 ...
TOs ... 8
... Portsmouth official "Unofficial Napkin Stats ...
Scoring ...McKinley 23, Evans 20, Bendolph 15, Whitley 8, Underwood 6, Jordan 3
3 Pointers ... 6/16 ... seemed like about 20 made threes during the that 21-2 run in the 4th LOL ... 3 dagger were enough ...
FTs ... 13/14 ... one of the best FT shooting teams I have seen this season, will pay dividends in the post season ...
TOs ... 12
... some pfloyd IMOs ...
... Warren is a very good team, Portsmouth on this night was an OUTSTANDING "TEAM" ... PHS has the potential to take it to the show in C'bus ... a "total" TEAM package: 1.) the best PG in Southern Ohio in Bendolph - the kid runs the show, gets the ball where it needs to be whether that is via the pass or off the dribble, may be the quickest pg with the ball I have seen AND he IS a scoring threat inside and behind the 3 point line ; 2.) great perimeter scorers in Bendolph, Evans, Whitley, AND the big man in the middle Dion McKinley ; 3.) size in the paint - not just size BUT athletic, strong rebounders AND scorers around the rim in Underwood and McKinley ... I would rate Dion McKinley THE BEST big man down low that I have seen in a long time, great hands and can get the ball to the rim ... 4.) TEAM speed on defense that can/does make life miserable for opposing perimeter players 5.) Portsmouth pushes the ball up court as fast or faster than any team I've seen ... PHS "penalizes" the opposition in transition AND even more so when the opposition scores - impressive ... could be a very special season for Coach Collins & Co. ...
