Things could be looking brighter for the Trojans next season, as freshmen DeAndre Berry and Devin Lattimore have positively impacted the varsity team, scoring 31 points between them in the last 2 games. They should be a lock to start on the varsity next season, and with the offensive ability of LeVaughn Cobb, Tyler Duncan, and Reid Pendleton on the JV team, Portsmouth could field a squad with more scoring punch. If that be the case, then there's no question the Trojans will be improved.
With the Junior High Trojans 7th and 8th grade teams both having good seasons, there is hope that for the next 4-5 years that Portsmouth could put a more competitive varsity team on the court. Perhaps the biggest question facing the program will be the status of head coach Eugene Collins, who has a very good overall record of 180-103 in 12 years, but unfortunately is saddled with 3 straight losing seasons counting this year. He hinted last year about not returning for this season, so there will be probably the same talk this off season. Collins is the 2nd winningest coach in PHS history, trailing only George Heller (1952-1968, 224-137). He guided PHS to back to back Final 4's in 2011 and 2012, and a regional final in 2015.
The junior/senior class has not lived up to the expectations that was hoped for, and with 5 juniors on the team, there is uncertainty as to how many of them will impact the varsity next season, with their lack of offensive punch and given the good play of the freshmen class. If Portsmouth is to return to the winning side of the ledger, more offense is an absolute must. The junior/senior class has not provided it, but the sophomore/freshmen classes look very capable of putting more points on the scoreboard. Portsmouth is currently 0-9 in games this season in which they have scored less than 50 points.
From 2015--2021, and including the 2011 and 2012 state tournament teams, Portsmouth is 9-37 in games in which they have scored less than 50 points. The last 3 years, however, have been the biggest struggle offensively, and consequently, the records show that. 2019: 8-16, 2020: 10-13, 2021: currently 7-10. The teams 2015-2018 were very good teams and had few games scoring less than 50 points. 2015: 20-7, 2016: 16-8, 2017: 17-8, 2018: 16-8. Those 4 teams averaged at least 60 PPG, with the exception of the 2017 team, which averaged 57.8 PPG.
Portsmouth doesn't lack athleticism and rarely has.........but offensively, the program is in one of the worst periods in history. More scoring will produce more wins, the math says so based on the research that I've done. Next season will be one in which there are 2 directions to go........do you play next year's senior class just because they're seniors, and have not won throughout their entire varsity careers, or do you go with a more offensively talented but less experienced sophomore/junior class? Will a few freshmen be allowed to dress and play varsity as has been the case this season? Can the Trojans overcome an anticipated lack of size given the graduation of outstanding rebounder Miles Shipp? Can PHS actually be a contender for the OVC title, something the school hasn't won since 2015, and has conference records the last 3 seasons of 3-11, 6-8, and currently 5-8(with 1 game remaining). Can Portsmouth look more like a basketball team with proficient basketball skills instead of a team with good athletes who lack the scoring ability to seriously compete?
Questions abound for the 2021-2022 season, and how those questions will be answered will be pivotal to the success over the next 4-5 years for Portsmouth basketball.