Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — It’s a good news, bad news thing for the Portsmouth Lady Trojans.

Good news: Last season, the Lady Trojans had only six or seven players. This year they start the season with 10 players.

Bad news: Half the roster is freshmen.

Second-year head coach Kristen Bradshaw said the young players have some talent, but warned the step up to the varsity level from middle school will be an eye-opener.

“It’ll be a shock to them. The competition level is big coming straight from junior high to varsity level. They’ll probably get quite a few minutes in the varsity game,” said Bradshaw.

Fortunately, Portsmouth has three seniors back from a 2-20 team in Cortney Scarberry, Wesleigh Jackson and Faythe Lee.

“Those three will be our senior leaders on the court. Their leadership with the younger girls will be key for us,” said Bradshaw. “If (Jackson) gets wide-open, she shoots it lights out. I’m looking for her to have a really good senior year.”

Leading Portsmouth will be three-year starter Semajah Parker.

“She’s working hard this year,” said Bradshaw of the junior. “And we’ve really been working on our conditioning because we are going to have to be in good shape to get up and down the court.”

Sophomore Sharia Kearns is back and will compete with freshman Jasmine Eley to be the point guard. Sharia Kearns’ sister Kylisha Kearns — a freshman — will also be in the mix for playing time.

Freshman Destiny McKenzie is pushing for the fifth starting position.

“All 10 of them will get playing time. I’m going to look to press a little bit because, to me, that’s the fun part, putting pressure on the opponent and getting that momentum going,” said Bradshaw.

Portsmouth Lady Trojans

2015-16 Basketball Roster

No. Player Pos. Ht. Gr.

1 Jasmine Eley Fr.

2 Kylisha Kearns Fr.

3 Faythe Lee Sr.

4 Sharia Kearns So.

5 Wesleigh Jackson Sr.

10 Shai Howard Fr.

11 Destiny McKenzie Fr.

12 Cortney Scarberry Sr.

21 Jordan Pelfrey Fr.

32 Semajah Parker Jr.

Head coach: Eugene Collins

 

2015-16 Basketball Schedule

November

21 at Peebles

December

2 WAVERLY

3 at Ironton#

5 at Oak Hill

7 COAL GROVE#

9 IRONTON ST. JOSEPH

10 at South Point#

14 CHESAPEAKE#

16 at New Boston

17 FAIRLAND#

21 at Ports. Notre Dame

January

4 at Rock Hill#

7 at Gallipolis#

11 IRONTON#

14 at Coal Grove#

21 at Chesapeake#

23 WEST UNION

25 SOUTH POINT#

28 at Fairland#

February

1 ROCK HILL#

3 at Waverly

4 GALLIPOLIS#

#-Denotes OVC game