Portageville Takes Class 2 Boy’s Title

Portageville Takes Class 2 Boy’s Title

By David Sharp

   Portageville
(24-5) put up 26 points off 22 Harrisburg turnovers, winning the 2009 Class 2
boy’s championship by a final score of 60-55. The southeast Missouri Bulldogs
led 30-16 in the second quarter.

   Portageville led
24-10 after one period of play and 35-25 at intermission. Three Harrisburg
players along with Portageville forward Don Minnis fouled out of an often
chippy game.

   Harrisburg fought
back within three points early in the fourth quarter. Portageville sank 23 of
38 free throws for 60%. Harrisburg went 19-25 from the charity stripe for 76%.

  Portageville
extended their lead to 52-44 with 6:58 to play in the game. Portageville led
47-42 after three periods of play. Harrisburg all stater Cory Via fouled out of
the contest away from the ball running down the court. Via left the game with
11 Harrisburg points.

   Josh Taylor,
Keegan Petersen fouled out of the contest along with Cory Via. Harrisburg
appeared to lose their poise at times during the second half. The Bulldogs were
assesses two technical fouls.

   Harrisburg coach
Steve Combs was whistled for a technical foul at the 2:35 juncture of period
three after Cory Via picked up his fourth foul. Portageville led 41-33 after a
Byron Wright free throw.

  Tyler Rasmussen
appeared to stand over a fallen Portageville player after a foul, and was
assessed a technical foul with 6:58 to play in the game. Donell Minnis sank two
free throws for the eight point cushion.

   The central
Missouri Bulldogs battled back within a 54-53 deficit when Keegan Petersen sank
a free throw with 2:43 remaining in the game. Six straight Portageville points
answered the 9-2 Harrisburg run.

   Harrisburg had a
chance to take the lead when Frank Wanner stole the basketball at the 2:14
mark. The Bulldogs were assessed an offensive foul for a possible illegal
screen with 127 seconds remaining. Royden Booker cashed in the turnover at the
1:38 mark for a 56-53 lead.

   Harrisburg turned
the ball over three times in the final three minutes of play. Max Manning
scored a game high 16 Harrisburg points with 14 rebounds. Mason Harden scored
14 points. Cory Via was in double figures with 11 points.

   Byron Wright and
Fred Treadwell led Portageville with 14 points each. Harrisburg held a 40-34
rebound edge. Both teams shot around the 40% level from the field.

   New Franklin
(29-3) topped Couch (27-5) by a 41-39 final winning the Class 2 girls’ third
place trophy. Kelsea McClellan led the Bulldogs with 15 points. Miller (25-5)
edged Laquey (28-4) 48-46 in the Class 2 boy’s third place contest.