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LOGAN — Portsmouth waited 40 years to play in a regional tournament game.
After Wednesday, the Trojans will wait just three more days to do it again.
Behind a strong defensive effort and a lightning-fast start, the Trojans (22-4) had no issues earning a 65-35 victory over West in a Division III regional semifinal.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“This game couldn’t have gone any better. We played really well and the kids brought a lot of energy,” Portsmouth coach Amy Hughes said. “It’s great to have the community support we did with everyone driving all the way up here and we feed off of that energy. We played really loose and that’s always the joy you want to play with.”
Early on, it was all Sienna Allen.
The Trojans’ sophomore standout showed no nerves being on a Sweet 16 stage.
She scored nine of the Trojans’ first 11 points, lifting them to an 11-2 lead. The Senators (21-4) fought back with a 6-0 run behind Hailey Carver and Emma Sayre, but Portsmouth still controlled a 13-8 lead after the first eight minutes.
“We were wanting to get the ball inside early, it just so happened that Sienna was there and open,” Hughes said. “The girls were looking for one another at all times, and that just builds confidence to keeps the momentum rolling.”
Allen and Haven Carter then scored before Daysha Reid cashed in a triple, spurring a 7-2 run and pushing the lead to 20-10.
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Savannah Cantrell was showcasing her 6-foot-3 frame as she blocked five shots to keep the Senators off the board.
Clogging the lane and 15 Senator turnovers equaled a 22-10 lead at halftime.
“It was all about defense. Doing the little things right and focusing on the fundamentals,” Hughes said. “Moving your feet, showing the quickness and athletic ability to stay in front of Emma. Our gameplan was phenomenal.”
Portsmouth opened the third on a 9-0 run behind Reid, Allen and Keke Woods, pushing the lead to 31-10. From there, the Trojans shifted into cruise control before punching their Elite 8 tickets.
Allen finished with a team-high 21 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Reid added 15 points to the mix.
For West, Sayre ended the night with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds.
Portsmouth returns to action in a Division III regional at 7 p.m., Saturday back at Logan. The Trojans will meet with North Adams, a winner over Fort Frye on Wednesday.
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