Portsmouth Trojans 2025-26

[Penguin]

Portsmouth did very well in their scrimmage vs. Lynchburg Clay @Lynchburg; had a 20 point lead at one point and won by about 12.

Was able to take some in on Hudl, Portsmouth touched 16 at one point in the 3rd before Lynchburg had a few opportunities to cut it to 5-6 late, final score was Trojans by 10. Good look for both teams. I think Portsmouth was maybe missing a key piece, Lynchburg missed too many shots in the paint.

[MeanJoeGreene]

Would love to see the Trojans add another 20 win team to that list this year.

[BandWagon]

Coach Smith has all the pieces for a 20 win season he just has to play them right

[trojandave]

Trojans won 2 of 3 quarters each vs. Northwest and Peebles, with most of the quarters closely contested. As far as Portsmouth's play, their defense stood out. Lots of man to man halfcourt, full court pressing, and just basically creating havoc all over the court. The offense was sporadic, and the ball handling needs a lot of work.....too many turnovers. Rebounding was okay. There are things to work on for sure.

Coach Smith played a lot of players, and I liked the spirit that they showed to each other. If the Trojans can play defense like they did last night, they will win quite a few games. There's better teams in the SE district, but I can say that probably no team is quicker than PHS. One of the officials working the game was very impressed with the Trojans' athleticism.

Northwest and Peebles are respectable teams, and should do well in their leagues.

[PTrojan59]

Trojans won 2 of 3 quarters each vs. Northwest and Peebles, with most of the quarters closely contested. As far as Portsmouth's play, their defense stood out. Lots of man to man halfcourt, full court pressing, and just basically creating havoc all over the court. The offense was sporadic, and the ball handling needs a lot of work.....too many turnovers. Rebounding was okay. There are things to work on for sure.

Coach Smith played a lot of players, and I liked the spirit that they showed to each other. If the Trojans can play defense like they did last night, they will win quite a few games. There's better teams in the SE district, but I can say that probably no team is quicker than PHS. One of the officials working the game was very impressed with the Trojans' athleticism.

Northwest and Peebles are respectable teams, and should do well in their leagues.

Great rundown Dave, thanks for posting.

[trojandave]

Final AP Rankings for the Portsmouth Trojans 1950--present:

1950: #5...........District Champions
1951: #3...........District Champions
1952: #19..........District Champions
1953: #7...........lost to Minford in the district tournament
1955: #7...........Regional Runnerup
1956: #18..........District Champions
1960: #13..........District Champions
1961: #6...........State Champions
1963: #30..........District Champions
1964: #8...........District Champions
1965: #8...........lost to Athens in district tournament
1979: #1...........lost to Ironton in district tournament
1980: #14.........State Runnerup
1981: #9...........lost to Hillsboro in district tournament
1982: #10..........District Champions
1983: #6...........District Champions
1984: #10..........lost to Wheelersburg in district tournament
1987: #5...........District Champions
1988: #2...........State Champions
1989: #11..........District Champions
1990: #13..........State Runnerup
1991: #3...........Regional Runnerup
1999: #14.........District Champions
2011: #10.........State Semifinalist
2012: #6..........State Runnerup

[A Trojan Confluence]

I remember last year we were turnover prone and that can make it difficult to score. Defense will be key and our spead will enhance it. Sounds like we have a little more height this season too, which we've been lacking.
I think we all want 20 wins and I cannot think of a SE district team that has had that many in regular season. I am a little more realistic on the number of wins.

Trojans won 2 of 3 quarters each vs. Northwest and Peebles, with most of the quarters closely contested. As far as Portsmouth's play, their defense stood out. Lots of man to man halfcourt, full court pressing, and just basically creating havoc all over the court. The offense was sporadic, and the ball handling needs a lot of work.....too many turnovers. Rebounding was okay. There are things to work on for sure.

Coach Smith played a lot of players, and I liked the spirit that they showed to each other. If the Trojans can play defense like they did last night, they will win quite a few games. There's better teams in the SE district, but I can say that probably no team is quicker than PHS. One of the officials working the game was very impressed with the Trojans' athleticism.

Northwest and Peebles are respectable teams, and should do well in their leagues.

[basketballohio]

LOL portsmouth a 20 win team, with what players??? Its Portsmouth i guarintee that they will be more of a .500 team and wouldn’t be surprised if they r lower.

[trojandave]

Portsmouth Trojans top 10 winningest coaches:

1. George Heller........1952-1968......224-137.........9 district titles, 2 Elite 8's, 1961 state championship
2. Eugene Collins.......2010-2023......201-130.........2 Final 4's, 1 regional runnerup, 2 SEOAL titles, 1 OVC title, D3 Ohio Coach of the Year in 2012
3. Richard "Red" Hopkins.....1926-1936......168-58...5 state appearances, 1931 state title, 1934 state runnerup
4. Tom Smith............1982-1987......108-35..........3 district titles
5. Richard "Dick" Hopkins.....1976-1981....103-34....2 district titles, 1978 state championship, 1980 state runnerup, 1979 AP Poll champions
6. Joe Suboticki.........1988-1991......94-11...........1988 state championship, 1990 state runnerup, 4 district titles, 1 Elite 8
7. Bob Doll...............1969-1975......85-59...........2 district titles
8. Jim Rhea..............1996-2001......81-52...........2 district titles
9. Bill Rohr................1947-1951.....80-29...........3 district titles
10. Paul Jenkins.........1937-1940......47-21...........1939 state tournament

[trojandave]

The Portsmouth 7th and 8th grade Trojans swept a doubleheader from Chesapeake on Monday. Both games were close, with the 7th grade winning by 4 and the 8th grade winning by about 10. Last year's 7th grade won only 1 game last season. Portsmouth's future looks really exciting with these 2 teams and the current freshmen class which went undefeated and won the OVC last season. Put those 3 classes together in a couple of years and the Trojans will have a legitimate shot to make the Final 4.

Some of the standouts are 7th graders Josiah Greene, Reese Berry, Sage Brown, 8th graders Amani Wood, Ryan Helpenstein, and freshmen Mekhi Berry, Joe Greene, Manny Thomas, Liam Livingston, and O'Ryan Graybell. A lot of excitement in Portsmouth with these kids. From what I have heard our 6th grade team has a lot of talent as well.

[trojandave]

Trojans who have scored 30 or more points at least 5 times in their careers:

DeAndre Berry leads the way with 7 such games:

40 vs. Rock Hill (2024)
38 vs. Ironton (2024)
36 vs. Coal Grove (2023)
36 vs. South Point (2024)
31 vs. Gallia Academy (2024)
31 vs. Gallia Academy (2023)
30 vs. Rock Hill (2023)

Kyre Allison:

33 vs. Chillicothe (2014)
32 vs. Eastern Brown (2016)
32 vs. Fairland (2015)
32 vs. Jackson (2014)
31 vs. Williamsport Westfall (2014)
30 vs. Eastern Brown (2016)

Damond Mannon:

39 vs. Dayton Colonel White (1992)
38 vs. Russell KY (1992)
35 vs. Columbus East (1992)
33 vs. Ashland KY (1992)
31 vs. Ashland KY (1991)
30 vs. Boyd County KY (1992)

Jeff Lisath:

35 vs. Gallia Academy (1978)
34 vs. Chillicothe (1978)
32 vs. Russell KY (1978)
31 vs. Russell KY (1977)
30 vs. Ironton (1977)

Larry Hisle:

41 vs. Wilmington (1965)
36 vs. Lancaster (1965)
36 vs. Marietta (1965)
34 vs. Huntington WV (1965)
33 vs. Portsmouth West (1965)

So far, I have found 85 games by 36 Trojans who have scored at least 30 points in a game. Darnell Lisath holds the record for most points scored in any PHS tournament game, as he blistered the nets for 38 points vs. Greenfield McClain in the 1994 district championship, a 77-67 PHS win. Mike Lovenguth scored the most points by any Trojan past district play with 36 vs. #1 Celina in the 1972 regional semifinals, a 77-71 loss in OT.

[trojandave]

Some notable streaks in Portsmouth's basketball history:

1. Portsmouth won 5 straight regional final games from 1961--1990 (1961, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1990)
2. Portsmouth won 7 straight state semifinal games from 1931--1990 (1931, 1934, 1961, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1990)
3. Portsmouth won the Ohio-Kentucky Athletic Conference 5 years in a row (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
4. Portsmouth has had at least one 20 PPG scorer in 5 straight decades (1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's)
5. Portsmouth recorded at least 20 wins in 6 straight seasons (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
6. Portsmouth had 9 straight winning decades (1910's, 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's)
7. Portsmouth's longest tournament winning streak is 11 games (8 tournament games in 1978, 3 in 1979)
8. Portsmouth's longest winning streak in all games is 29 (8 tournament games in 1978, 21 games in 1979)
9. Portsmouth's longest streak of winning seasons was from 1963--1984
10. Portsmouth had 6 consecutive coaches who won at least 2 district championships (Bill Rohr 1947-1951), George Heller (1952-1968), Bob Doll (1969-1975), Dick Hopkins (1976-1981), Tom Smith (1982-1987), Joe Suboticki (1988-1991)

Not a streak but noteworthy: Portsmouth had only 5 losing seasons from 1947--1991: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1985
Also noteworthy: Portsmouth has had only 1 losing decade in school history: 2000-2009 (100-121); the decade of 2010-2019, PHS went 163-80

[trojandave]

Top Trojan Scorers at the State Tournament:

1. Jeff Lisath............1978.............2 games (40).........18/22
2. Craig Tubbs...........1978.............2 games(39)..........21/18
3. Marcus Bendolph....1980.............2 games(37)..........21-16
4. Wayne Evans.........2011/2012......3 games(35).........13/22/0
5. Zaide Noel............2011/2012.....3 games(32)..........9/7/16
6. (tie) Dominic McKinley....1988......2 games(31)..........12/19
6. (tie) Kirk McMahon..1980............2 games(31)..........19/12
8. (tie) David Barnes...1988............2 games (30).........24/6
8. (tie) Clem Hartley....1961...........2 games(30)..........22/8
10. Dion McKinley........2011/2012....3 games(29)..........3/13/13
11.(tie) Jayllen Carter..2012............2 games(25).........23/2
12.(tie) Mike Haley......1961............2 games(25).........5/20

[danicalifornia]

Did they play tonight?

[PTrojan59]

Did they play tonight?

Today at 6pm

[danicalifornia]

Did they play tonight?

Today at 6pm

Thanks!

[BandWagon]

The Trojans looked decent tonight they have to work on free throws and rebounding. I get its the first game but I think Green looks better then Lofton hopefully he moves up in the rotation but besides that everyone off the bench looked pretty good

[740Gridiron]

What was the score?

[BandWagon]

49-41 Portsmouth

[hoopsnut1979]

I know it was the first real game for both schools but I am a little surprised by this score. I wasn't expecting this game to be this close. Most project Minford to finish in last place of their division of the SOC III. If Portsmouth truly has aspirations of competing at the top of the OVC this season, they will have to rebound the ball better. I too, was expecting Green to factor more into the Trojans rotation.