Portsmouth @ Warren 12/18

[ManitouDan]

way to go Trojans ! MD

[oldertrojan1]

Congrats to Coach Collins! It is nice to see the underdogs come out with a win! The Trojans may not have a winning season(hope I am wrong) but its nice to see the spirit of a good bunch of boys. We have not had the discipline since the Coach Sub years!

[trojandave]

I went to the game and it was well worth it........VERY PROUD OF THE TROJANS ON THE WIN!!...........to date, it was Portsmouth's best SEOAL win in the 3+ years we have been in the league........after falling behind 9-0, the Trojans outscored the Warriors 75-60 the rest of the way.......Warren is a good ballclub which was 4-0 going into the game.

The offense really clicked well after the first quarter........PHS was patient, took good shots, and had some fast break opportunities that they took advantage of.........defensively, the Trojans forced the Warriors into some turnovers which helped get PHS back in the game.

Forrest Johnson, Tre Underwood, and Wayne Evans were OUTSTANDING for us........and once again as in the Wheelersburg game, Coach Collins had Seth Bratchett and Lenny Collins on the floor late in the 4th quarter........to keep gaining valuable experience......in fact, at one point in the 4th, PHS had 3 sophomores on the court......Seth, Lenny, and Wayne.......and the Trojans didn't miss a beat.

Scoring for the Trojans: Wayne Evans with 23, Forrest Johnson and Tre Underwood both had 19.......and I would say unofficially that Tre had double digit rebounds.

I don't think in the almost 40 years I have been watching the Trojans that I have seen this dramatic a turnaround in only a week.........hopefully our kids will keep that momentum going into next week when we host an improved Jackson team.

The drive to Warren.......2 1/2 hours up and only 1/2 hour back..........and a pizza to go from Napoli's

GO TROJANS!!!

[Warrior C C]

Congrats to Portsmouth! Started slow but came out in 2nd half and played extremely well. Outstanding free throw percentage down the stretch. Warren seems to have some leadership issues as well as lacking Team Chemistry!
Several costly turnovers down the stretch and some very bad shot selection. Dont quite understand the offense the Warriors are wanting to run because it seems we forget that we have one of the best post players in the area (Venham)but fail to use him for that. We have several great (YOUNG) shooters that could compliment Venhams inside threat with an inside-out Offense' but with the loyalty to our upperclassmen, dont think we will see that, atleast not this year. The mistakes that we make and that our not addressed to certain players are whats going to keep us from going far! We have what it takes to be a strong team, but it just seems that the hook is quick for a simple mistake made from a few players but then the hook stretches a mile long for several mistakes made by a same teammate, not sure if this will build a strong bond for a TEAM? Just seems to be some bad vibes coming from several teammates of how things are handled....But thats for the Coach to address! GREAT JOB Coach Duckworth with the Jv win, the Chemistry with those boys really seemed to click...maybe you opened some eyes? Strong starting 5 with great roll players off the bench, Seems like a different kind of TEAM outlook...TOGETHER AS ONE!
Maybe it will trickle up to the Varsity level....Keep up the good work (Duck)! .......the sun comes out tomorrow

[trojandave]

The JV game was 64-23 Warren.......but Mason Jordan made his debut.......and he was the only player on the squad that played well........he scored 10 of the 23 points, and pulled down a bunch of rebounds.......he can really get off the floor, and shot the ball okay for his first game, hitting a 3 pointer also. He dressed for the varsity game but didn't get in......but I think it's only a matter of time before he sees some varsity minutes.

Ballhandling miscues are the main problem for the JV Trojans.

[trojandave]

Warrior C C is right about the Trojans' free throws.......we were OUTSTANDING in the 4th quarter.......it helped keep the lead from 5-8 points.

[claypantherfan]

Sounds like Portsmouth is back in the right direction after a rocky start

[Warrior C C]

STATS---Back to the shooting of Warren, just makes it even more important to have the ball in the right persons hand when it matters? While everyone has an off night, when Cunningham is 3-12 from the floor,Ellenwood 1-5, Lang not hitting from outside as well,(2-6) and Hastie (4-14)but most of those being desperation to get us back in the game which is fine, why wouldnt you know as a shooter that you arent feelin it and work it elsewhere--Venham 6-12 Knost 4-6. Establish the inside game first and then the outside game gets alot easier? Dont force the shots when they arent there, trust your teammates that makes your TEAM....not all about your stats....cause a stat that would be nice in the paper would be turnovers, now that would Open some eyes. So Lets go Warriors...Think TEAM!

[biggdowgg]

wish I could have been there for this one.

TrojanDave:
Thanks for the call Immediately after the game,,,,,I knew we won,when I first hear you talk

[jgordon0315]

Woke up this morning listening for scores to see if the Trojans won on the radio, since I missed the game. Caught the tail end of the conversation with former Trojan skipper Shoemaker. Then I heard Skip Hickman anounce his next guest on the radio program was in studio, and that being coach Collins. Right then I knew we won. Some things Geno talked about were the first two losses, the Burg win and of course the Warren win. He talked about the seniors, Patrick Underwood, Forrest Johnson, London Malone and Isaiah Reeves, with Forrest having the only significant experience prior to this year. He went on to talk about Patrick and London being captains on the team and them being the first ones in the gym everyday. He then went on to talk about Isaiah Reeves always being the hardest worker. He described Isaiah as being the guy no one in practice wants to be around because he's always outworking everyone, and always around the ball. The last thing he talked about was that his defense is still a work in progress, citing much needed improvement yet overall he was pleased with where they've come. He admitted that after the first loss to South Webster, he and his wife were sitting around the dinner table. And she looked at him and said, "Are you cut out for this." He replied, "We're here now." So just like Coach Collins said so say I about the Trojans, "We're here now!"

[jcbigblue]

WARRIOR C C,

Why all the hating after this game? Why do you choose to say something after a loss and nothing after a win? How about all the good things this team does? From what i have observed this is a "we" team not a "me" team, i hope you aren't judging this team off of one game. As for last nights game it was a learning experience for all the players, that will be valuable later on this season. Also how do you know what is going on with the coach's decision making? Please try to keep these type of comments to yourself and not try to create turmoil among the warrior fans.

[WHSwarrior]

Great post, jcbigblue.

Learning experience is the best term to describe last night...for coaches and players alike (hopefully). It certainly cemented the fact that FreeThrows CAN be the difference in a game

I do not disagree with the think TEAM idea, Warrior C C, but I think this Warrior TEAM already is pretty good on that front...always room for improvement, but...

We'll see if Big Blue can right the ship against another tough opponent in Ironton next Tues

[southernohiofan]

very nice win for the trojans

[Warrior C C]

Not hating.....and Warriors are capable of so much more, just wondering why we cant see a bigger picture and quit being satisfied with just getting to the Convo? We seem to always have the talent and this year is even better....but If we cant push the kids and want to get any farther, then its convo and end of story...again. Want nothing more than to see the Big Blue go far, but with what we see in non-discipline toward certain players, its like mixing oil and water,,,and im not the first person to notice. So great teams are pushed to there limit and are treated as a group, not as individuals,each member of the team should be able to take constructive criticism, and im sorry, I dont see that happening. So if I did nothing else but raise some eyebrows, then Im satisfied... Watch a little closer and see whats going on and maybe ...just maybe...it will get our staff treating all teams as a group, and im not talking about just in basketball. No matter how gifted an athlete is, in a team sport,it takes his or her teammates, so we need to quit pampering the stars and maybe make them see the entire picture as well....TEAM.TEAM.TEAM. I will be the first to comment on a win, but sometimes grading our team on quality wins instead of just wins, is more important to me. The sun comes out tomorrow

[WHSwarrior]

Here's something I really hate about Warren fans:

DONT ASSUME WE'RE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO THE CONVO!!!!!! There's a long season and a few tough sectional games before then. No one is happy with a loss at the Convo, BUT this team understands that if they continue to develop, they can go far. And if they don't continue to develop, they won't.

Coach Maddox has built a PROGRAM in Vincent. In years where his talent doesn't really fit his system, he rarely changes the system, and gets those kids to the Convo anyway. But in years where he has talent (and a lot of it) and it meshes with the system, watch out.

It's one of those latter years in Warrior Country.

[PATTYCAKES]

Looks like them Trojans ruined another undefeated season for them warriors.

[Warrior C C]

Talk about hating,,,why hate warrior fans,just cause truth hurts? I agree about this being one of those latter years,
just wonder how long we gonna keep waiting on a GREAT YEAR? Im getting old and just being satisfied with what we keep doing isnt what I want to see. We have the capability of becoming a Zanesville/Logan Elm type school with some STATE recognition. So guess we will see how great we are and if our coaching staff is as good as you say? As far as the tough sectional games, not sure that these games are the same strengh of what we play all season. I know we have to still perform at a high level and cant assume anything, but Id say that if we do anything else but go to the Convo and beyond, it would be embarassing to me....same ole...same ole. So sounds like the pressure will be on the coaches for sure now.....Thanks WHSwarrior for putting the coaches on the hot seat, unless you are one of the many who think we should be satisfied with no state titles.....just askin? Be nice to get some recognition for our hoops boys someday. The sun comes out tomorrow!

[biggdowgg]

best of luck to Warren, on the rest of their season

[jgordon0315]

From what I've heard Warren is picked to be one of the elite's of our league. If this is the case then we've got a great measuring stick from this game. Again another slow start, hopefully we can have a consistent flow to our games from here on out.