Fairland's Bailey Russell (32) looks toward the basket as Unioto's Aidyn Danison (15) defends during a high school basketball game in 2024 at Southeastern High School in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Fairland's Bailey Russell (32) looks toward the basket as Unioto's Aidyn Danison (15) defends during a high school basketball game in 2024 at Southeastern High School in Chillicothe, Ohio.
TIM GEARHART | For The Herald-Dispatch
FairlandƵs Kamryn Barnitz shoots during a high school basketball game in 2024 at Southeastern High School in Chillicothe, Ohio.
TIM GEARHART | For The Herald-Dispatch
PortsmouthƵs Keke Woods (4) drives against FairlandƵs Bailey Russell during a high school basketball game in 2024 in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Fairland hasnƵt lost to the same team three times in one girls high school basketball season since 2008-09, when South Point topped the Dragons thrice.
Portsmouth has a chance to duplicate the PointersƵ feat when the Trojans (25-1) take on Fairland (21-5) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Ohio Division V state semifinals at Ohio UniversityƵs Convocation Center in Athens.
ƵWe obviously know each other pretty well,Ƶ Dragons coach Jon Buchanan said. ƵTheyƵve had our number the last couple of times.Ƶ
Portsmouth won the regular season meetings 67-49 Dec. 21 at Fairland and 47-35 Feb. 3 at home. Both teamsƵ coaches said those games mean something but arenƵt a predictor of the next outcome.
The Dragons fell behind early in the first meeting and didnƵt seriously threaten. The second time around, Fairland led late in the third quarter before the Trojans rallied.
ƵWeƵre excited,Ƶ Fairland leading scorer Bailey Russell said. ƵIt should be a good one.Ƶ
The winner advances to the state tournament against either Columbus Africentric (20-7) or Creston Norwayne (24-3) at 10:45 a.m. March 15 at the University of Dayton. The Nubians and Bobcats meet at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield High School.
Portsmouth doesnƵt pretend to finesse anyone. Led by 5-foot-11 junior first-team all-state guard Sienna Allen, who owns scholarship offers from dozens of major college programs, including some in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, the Trojans take pride in making teams adjust to their physical style.
ƵThatƵs we talk about all the time,Ƶ Portsmouth coach Amy Hughes said. ƵItƵs pretty obvious when you see us, there arenƵt many players who could play for dad (assistant coach Mike Hughes) and me. We donƵt have 15 on the roster and we donƵt have a junior varsity team.
ƵYou have to be the right kind of kid to play for us. You have to be as tough as nails. ThatƵs all we accept, all we take and all we have. We weaned out all the other ones.Ƶ
Daysha Reid, a 5-6 senior and 1,000-point scorer who signed with Georgetown College, is a threat inside and out, as is 5-6 sophomore Keke Woods. Hayven Carter and Savannah Cantrell are tough inside, as Fairland knows from its two losses to the Ohio Valley Conference champion Trojans.
ƵThe two biggest things we knew, one was offensive rebounding,Ƶ Buchanan said. ƵWe couldnƵt get beaten on the offensive boards, and they killed us on the offensive boards. That really got their lead. The other, some personnel scouting report stuff we didnƵt want to give up and we did.Ƶ
The Dragons are potent, as they proved in a 73-38 rout of Versailles in the Region 20 final. Fairland made 14 shots from 3-point range.
Russell, a 5-7 junior, averages a team-best 16.5 points per game. West Florida signee Kamryn Barnitz, a 5-6 senior, scores 12 a game, and 6-foot junior Addison Godby nets 11.7 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds an outing.
Isa Talifarro and Taegan Leep round out a Fairland starting lineup supplemented by strong depth.
All said theyƵre thankful to have another shot at Portsmouth.
ƵThey were a little better than us,Ƶ Buchanan said of the first two meetings. ƵOur goal was to inch closer to being able to compete a little better. We werenƵt good enough. Last year, we werenƵt good enough the first time, either, but won the second game. We have to work hard to try to be better this time.Ƶ
Hughes said she thinks Portsmouth, which beat Minford 49-32 in the Region 19 championship game, will have to play better, too, to win.
ƵWe could have fewer turnovers,Ƶ Hughes said. ƵWeƵve been able to score many ways, with the drive, off the turnovers, off the offensive rebounds, pull-up jumpers. WeƵre tough, weƵre quick. We jump well. WeƵre super quick and weƵre fast, end line to end line. We didnƵt get a lot of fast-break points, and thatƵs something to improve on.Ƶ
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