Portsmouth Trojans 2024-25

[Pinwheel]

All due respect to all the Trojan posters. But this last paragraph above, starting with Go Trojans is my personal opinion also. This is my thoughts ,everyone has there own thoughts here. But look at Portsmouth girls team , lots of talent on girls team and highly seasoned and a record of winning seasons by there Coach’s that produce a high quality team on the court. good luck to everyone in the coming years!

Pretty sure Portsmouth Girls team 3,4,5 years ago was only winning 2-3 games total for the year. Trojandave would know better records but the same coaching staff then to now. They have a great team now! This was not the case 5 years ago. Just stating facts. Give the guy a chance. Their 8th grade team is really good with 1 one of the best players in SE ohio coming up!

OMG ,FINALLY!!!
THE TRUTH RIGHT HERE COACH AMY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT COACH, AND SHE TO WALKED INTO A NOT SO GOOD PROGRAM "EVER" ,SHE DID NOT DO A BAD JOB BUT THE HORSED WASN'T THERE. WHO HELPED HER GET STARTED TO BE WHERE SHE AT ???? HMMM,IN COMING FRESHMAN CLASS THHAT WAS TALENTED AND THEY PLAYED AS "FRESHMAN STILL HAS SOPHMORE AND FRESHMAN PLAYING TODAY.STOP HATING ON A COACH SIMPY CAUSE YOU DONT LIKE HIM FOR PERSONAL REASON NOBODY LITTLE JOHNNY GOING TO NBA IF YOU DONT LIKE HIM MAYBE APPLY FOR THE JOB WHEN ITS OPEN AGAIN AND WE WILL SEE YOU PLAYING FOR A STATE TITLE IM SURE

[trojandave]

The Trojans' season came to a crashing end last Friday as the South Point Pointers thumped PHS 49-30 @South Point. For the 3rd time in 4 years, SP has eliminated the Trojans in the tournament, and has now won 4 in a row vs. PHS in the postseason (2017, 2022, 2023, 2025). Portsmouth's 30 points was the fewest in a tournament game since 2005. Also, PHS has been to the Convo only twice in 10 years (2017, 2024). The Trojans haven't won a district title since 2012, when they finished State Runnerup.

Malachi Loper had 10 points to end his career with 1,186 points, which puts him 9th all time in PHS history.

[trojandave]

Baseball16 and Pinwheel: Good posts by both of you. It wasn't long ago that when Amy Hughes took over the girls program, she had the task of building a program that had been a cellar dweller in the OVC. Now look at the Lady Trojans now: they are a powerhouse that has been to a Final 4 and is the heavy favorite to get back there again. With what PHS has coming back for next season, it should be more of the same.

As I posted above, PHS has only been at the Convo twice in 10 years. For those who think that Aaron Smith is the problem, just consider that stat. It is unfair to Aaron for anyone to dismiss him as a competent coach. The Trojans lost 2 All-Ohio players from last season (DeAndre Berry 23 PPG 2nd team all-Ohio, and Donnovan Breech 13 PPG Honorable Mention all-Ohio. PG Isaiah Lewis also graduated.

Fast forward to this year; Logan Adkins was slated to be a starter but was hurt during football season and never played in a game. Another starter, Luke Stine was injured in the very first game, and didn't play the rest of the season. In addition, Coach Smith had several transfers, a few of which had little varsity experience. I point these things out because they're facts, and not excuses. Leading scorer Connie Thomas missed at least 4 games with injury. I don't agree with everything Coach Smith does during games, but I have sense enough to know that 1 year is too small a sample size to say he shouldn't be the Trojans' HC. PHS also lost 3 OT games and another by a buzzer beater. The team could have had 10 wins with a little better fortune.

With what Aaron has coming back, the bar should be set higher next season. The varsity only loses 2 players who combined for only about 15 PPG. Returning PG Connie Thomas and 2 guard Daequan Woods combined for an average of around 30 points, and both had several games above 20 points. Logan Adkins will be back and should fit in nicely as a scoring wing. The JV went 10-8, the first winning season in many moons, while the incoming freshmen just won the OVC going undefeated. I think it would behoove Aaron to bring up several of those freshmen because their upside can only be a positive for next year's varsity.

I am quite sure that Aaron will evaluate the whole program from top to bottom, starting with himself. He is a Trojan and knows the expectations set before him. Year 2 should be a lot better, because there won't be as many unanswered questions with so many players coming back and a full year of experience that Aaron how has.

[Crab's Brother]

You have to give the guy a chance to turn it around. That is for sure.

But unless he has two D1 nephews coming up in the system, I wouldn't bank on a turnaround story like the girls program.

[BuckeyeBlood]

If you fire Smith after only 1 season it will set the program back even more. Let him get his touch on the team. He took over this team officially in what? August or September? He had very little time to make the team his team. I get it he was on staff before but he wasn’t the guy, now he is. The Trojans return some nice pieces in Thomas, Woods, a healthy Adkins. Kayleb Johnson & Dee Parker will give good minutes off the bench, Dukes if he returns as well. Berry & Greene are 2 of the incoming freshmen who can play varsity right away. If next season isn’t an improvement then I will be severely shocked.