Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
LOGAN — Simply put, there’s not another team in the state that hustles like Portsmouth.
The Trojans don’t get tired, they only get stronger as the game progresses, and once you’re down by two possessions, it’s already too late.
Tuscarawas Valley held firm in Saturday’s first quarter. Then the second quarter happened, and it was game over.
Portsmouth made sure its point was proven, winning the frame by a 27-9 margin. The Trojans never stopped running on their way to a 66-48 victory in a Division V regional final, marking their third consecutive regional championship banner.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
“I’m so proud of these girls, they’ve put in so much work, not just this year, but since they entered high school to make this program what it’s become,” Portsmouth coach Amy Hughes said. “It’s special to be a regional champion just once, but the fact we’ve done it three times speaks to how much these kids have worked to leave a legacy and make their high school basketball experience memorable.”
Portsmouth (22-4) was off to the races early as Sienna Allen and Hayven Carter connected on shots to put it ahead 6-4.
That lead ballooned to 15-7 behind Keke Woods, K.K. Mays and an old-fashioned three-point play from Allen. But the Trojans responded with a triple from Sydney Miller and a bucket inside from Ella Wallick, cutting the deficit to 15-12 after the first eight minutes.
“Tusky Valley is a really good team that shoots the ball really well and plays really solid defense,” Hughes said. “We got an early lead, but they matched our physicality in the first and fought hard. It was up to us to answer back and take the game into our hands the way we knew we could.”
This is where Portsmouth came alive and firmly put its foot on the gas pedal.
Specifically, Woods came alive.
Getting into the passing lanes, forcing turnovers and turning them into points, she scored eight of Portsmouth’s next 13 points to extend the lead to 30-17.
And they weren’t finished yet.
Salem Allen knocked down a pair of 3’s, Carter converted a pair of buckets, on top of being a bulldozer underneath on the boards, helping the Trojans go into halftime with a 42-21 lead — one that remained in double digits throughout the rest of the night.
“Hayven was so huge tonight, especially on the glass. Getting us a lot of second-chance opportunities and turning those into points,” Hughes said. “Keke and her defense speaks for itself. She plays the game with so much energy and never stops until the final buzzer. Everyone else followed right along, hit shots, played great defense and finished strong.”
Woods finished the night with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Carter followed with 17 points and nine rebounds alongside Sienna Allen’s 14 points, seven assists and five boards.
Portsmouth returns to action at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in a Division V state semifinal against Norwayne in a rematch of last year’s state championship game.
That game will take place at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.
“This has been our goal all season, defend our state title and make it back to Dayton,” Hughes said. “We’re two games away from doing just that, but Norwayne is the focus now. We know what they’re about having seen them last year in the title game. They’re going to bring everything they have and more, we have to do the same.”
SPONSORS
SCHMIDT FAMILY RESTAURANT GROUP
GLOCKNER FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS
