Portsmouth Trojans 2011-2012

[trojandave]

Portsmouth has all but 2 players.......Andrew Bendolph and Tre Underwood.........back for the 2011-2012 season...........everyone off the bench returns, and this will mean that Coach Collins will have much more depth and substitution options. Wayne Evans will be the PG, and though he is not the caliber of Bendolph at that position, will do a very adequate job. Zaide Whitley can also run the point if need be, as can Seth Bratchett. Right now, Duke Edwards and Mason Jordan look to be the kids to fill the two open slots of Bendolph and Underwood, but of course that could change between now and December.

I agree with TribeManiac10........Ironton should be improved this season, given that Zac Carter, Tre Fletcher, and Trevor White return.........add to this group Dion Brown and Josh Glover, and the Fighting Tigers no doubt are a serious regional title contender.

It is always tough to repeat as regional champion, but Portsmouth has a good shot at doing so, partly because in who they return, but as TribeManiac10 said, it is what some other teams lost from their rosters a year ago. The SE D3 field will not be as deep as last year, and with St. Clairsville moving up to D2, and Paul Honingford gone from Garaway, the East District D3 field won't be as strong either.

Regardless of how the Trojans fare in the tourney, they should have another 15-16 win regular season (12 home games) with a good shot at winning the SEOAL.........another exciting aspect of the rebirth of Portsmouth basketball is that PHS should be fielding some very good teams for the next 4-5 years, given the talent that will be coming after the 2011-2012 year. This year's JV team could be starting 2-3 freshmen (Sky Oliver, Alex Dickerson, Tay Tay Martin), and in 2012-2013, the incoming freshmen, featuring Kyre Allison, Zack Delotell, and Trent Rodbell, will see varsity action sooner than later, with Allison most likely a varsity starter as a frosh.

[trojandave]

Found out from trojan7 that Coach Collins has hired Ty Davis to be the freshmen coach........Davis was an outstanding player for Ironton in the early 90's and went on to play for Shawnee State.........excellent addition to an already fine basketball staff.

He will have some talented kids to work with, with several most likely splitting time between the freshmen team and JV.........Tay Tay Martin, Alex Dickerson, and Sky Oliver all could be doing double duty.

[trojandave]

Talked to Coach Collins at the Jackson football game.........open gym should start within a week or so.......with other sports such as volleyball and cross country ending soon.......days of the week are not set yet, but the starting time should be around 6 PM. Lenny Collins is running cross country, and will be in great shape for basketball season. I look for Lenny to be an important part of the rotation for the Trojans.

[trojandave]

Tobias: Open gym could be starting this week........the starting time should be around 6 PM, but I'm not sure which days Coach Collins will have it........in years past, open gym was 2-3 days a week.

With the football team out of the playoff picture, the Trojans will have plenty of time to get ready for the season, and with most of the returning basketball players playing football also, they will need that extra time to sharpen their skills........hopefully all our kids can make it through the remaining football schedule with no injuries.

[PTrojan59]

It started this week not sure what time though

[trojandave]

4' x 6' banners with your own personal endorsement are available for $250 and will be hung in the gymnasium........I bought one last year and it was well worth it to help Trojan basketball......I am planning to renew my banner for $200 for the 2011-2012 season. Contact Portsmouth High School at 354-2500 or Coach Collins if interested in purchasing a banner.

Last year, the Trojans had only 8 home games, partly due to the Florida trip over the New Year holiday........this year PHS has 12 home games, which is the most I can remember in a long time.

[jgordon0315]

All I know is, the closer we get to hoop season, the more excited I am about it!! Can hardly wait to see what the 2011-2012 boys will look like. Heck! Even the girls program is looking promising.....I'm telling ya'll now, check em out this year too! They should be pretty good! The hoops program is on its way to being a powerhouse again!!

[trojandave]

Back to basketball for a moment..........

Talked to Coach Collins at open gym Tuesday and he told me that we have 4 scrimmages lined up.........there will not be a foundation game this year........Coach just added another scrimmage to take its place.

Tentative scrimmage schedule is as follows........I didn't jot down the dates on paper but am going on my memory.......bear with me.......

November 12 (Sat.).......at Waverly........with Waverly and Eastern Brown........9 AM
November 16 (Wed.).......Fairland........starting at 6 PM
November 23 (Wed.).......at Kettering Fairmont........with Fairmont and 3 other schools.......probably an early (9 AM) start
November 16 (Sat.).......Minford and Notre Dame........starting time 9 AM

There were a LOT of kids at open gym Tuesday, especially junior high open gym........there must have been about 40 junior high kids, while the high school open gym had a respectable dozen or so, with most playing football.

Getting more and more excited about Trojan hoops!!

[jgordon0315]

great!! thanks Dave!!

[trojandave]

Open gym participation numbers continue to be good as the official start of basketball season will commence on Friday, Nov. 4..........there have been consistently about 40 junior high kids playing OG, while the high school numbers have been about 12-15.......come Monday, there will be a sharp increase in the high school turnout.

3 more days of open gym on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then tryouts will take place starting next Friday.

[jgordon0315]

Open gym starts at 6:30, I'm just glad all the basketball/ football players made it through the football season relatively healthy......Wayne Evans is a little banged up and Duke should be coming around after his late season mishap....other than that, we should field a very competetive day of open gym on Monday because no one that I know of will be out due to injury!

[trojan7]

Tobias, yes as far as I know 6:30 for both Junior high and high school.

[oldtrojan]

I found this on another site:

(only 19 games listed)

12/06/2011 7:30 PM vs. SOUTH WEBSTER
12/09/2011 7:00 PM @ SOUTH POINT
12/10/2011 7:30 PM @ IRONTON
12/13/2011 7:30 PM vs. JACKSON
12/16/2011 7:30 PM @ WARREN
12/20/2011 7:30 PM @ CHILLICOTHE
12/23/2011 7:30 PM @ WHEELERSBURG
12/30/2011 7:45 PM vs. RUSSELL, KY
01/06/2012 7:30 PM vs. GALLIA ACADEMY
01/10/2012 7:30 PM vs. WHITEOAK
01/13/2012 7:30 PM @ LOGAN
01/14/2012 7:45 PM vs. PIKETON
01/17/2012 7:30 PM vs. IRONTON
01/20/2012 7:30 PM @ JACKSON
01/27/2012 7:30 PM vs. WARREN
02/03/2012 7:30 PM vs. CHILLICOTHE
02/07/2012 8:00 PM vs. PEEBLES
02/10/2012 7:30 PM vs. LOGAN
02/17/2012 7:30 PM @ GALLIA ACADEMY

OHSAA's website has Cincinnati College Prep coming to Portsmouth on December 28th.

[jgordon0315]

thanks Tobias!!

[jgordon0315]

You are the king of information!!! I been looking for half the stuff that you be posting between here and the football side!! Sheesh! again thanks!!

[salemcat]

Jr. High Boys Basketball Schedule 2011-2012:

12/01/2011 vs. Fairland
12/05/2011 vs. South Point
12/08/2011 @ Chillicothe
12/14/2011 vs. Ironton
12/19/2011 vs. Valley
12/20/2011 @ Portsmouth West
12/21/2011 @ Fairland
01/02/2012 @ Jackson
01/05/2012 vs. Piketon
01/11/2012 vs. Wheelersburg
01/14/2012 @ Valley
01/18/2012 vs. Portsmouth West
01/25/2012 vs. Chillicothe
02/01/2012 @ Ironton
02/02/2012 vs. Jackson
02/18/2012 @ Eastern Jr. High Tourney

Disappointed Portsmouth and Minford did not match up in Jr. High.

[trojandave]

Tobias: You are correct.........once again a typing and proofreading error on my part.

[LetsGoPSU]

so the final 20 games are set in stone? I have to pick a weekend to come see a game or two

[ManitouDan]

projected starting 5 for the Trojans ?

[OZZIEOHIO]

Everything non basketball related has been removed, Please stay on topic. THANKS!!!!!!!