Portsmouthòòò½ÊÓƵ™s stay in the Ohio Valley Conference will last just a bit more than a decade.
The Trojans are leaving the OVC for the Southern Ohio Conference after the 2026-2027 season. Portsmouth joined the OVC with Gallia Academy and Ironton in 2014.
The Fighting Tigers left the league in football in 2024 but remain in everything else, joining Gallia Academy, Chesapeake, Coal Grove, Fairland, Rock Hill and South Point.
OVC president Dean Mader said the conference will reach out to schools to try to replace Portsmouth.
Trojans officials pointed to easier travel and less expense for the change of conferences.
Amazing Stats of the Week
South Point track and field star Derrick Taylor set a district record in the discus with a throw of 186 feet, 9 inches.
Cabell Midland won its seventh state championship in softball. Ironton won its first district baseball title since 2003. Green captured its first district championship in baseball since 2011 and is 5-0 in extra-inning games.
In a high school baseball game last week in Virginia, Twin Valley beat Council 38-18. Twin Valley scored 26 runs in the sixth inning. The contest featured a combined 54 walks.
Coach Speak
Lincoln County hired Wendy Mosteller as girls basketball coach. Sissonville girls basketball coach Chad McClanahan resigned.
Recruiting Roundup
SIGNINGS: Cabell Midland trackòòò½ÊÓƵ™s M.J. Daniels (Glenville State). Symmes Valley baseballòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Braden Hankins (Hocking). Mingo Central baseballòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Aaron Blankenship (West Virginia Wesleyan).
OFFERS: Raceland girls basketballòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Nim Maynard (òòò½ÊÓƵbury).
VISITS: Spring Valley footballòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Marcus Lewis (Cornell).
TRANSFERS: Former Cabell Midland player Sydni Burko from Indiana softball to Marshall. Former Princeton football player Dom Collins from West Virginia to Concord.
Notes, Quotes, Anecdotes
The Ironton Gridiron Classic is set for Aug. 30. Chicago Mount Carmel takes on Cincinnati Moeller at 1 p.m., followed by Middletown (Ohio) against Columbus Watterson at 4:30 p.m. Ironton plays Liberty Christian Academy at 8 p.m.
Lawrence County boys basketballòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Gunnar Woods has transferred to Boyd County. The òòò½ÊÓƵSSAC state soccer tournament will remain in Beckley through 2028. Summit Christian Academy from Princeton has joined the òòò½ÊÓƵSSAC.
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