Michael Hamilton
PORTSMOUTH – The Portsmouth Trojans edged out the Notre Dame Titans 64-63, in the SOMC Blue Out exhibition game, which raised awareness and funds for SOMC’s Annual Development Fund for Juvenile Diabetes. The exhibition game was hosted at Portsmouth High School Tuesday evening, which was organized with the help of two Notre Dame students who are both Type 1 Diabetic, also known as juvenile diabetes.
Notre Dame junior Mackenzie Brown, and her fellow classmate Aubrey Boland gave a short speech just before tipoff, explaining the importance of the game, and honored all Type 1 Diabetics in attendance. Brown was diagnosed in May of 2008 with Type 1 Diabetes, while Boland was diagnosed last year.
“This disease is a silent disease that affects so many children, teens, and young adults, as well as adults in our surrounding community,” Brown said.
All proceeds from ticket sales, and merchandise sales, which included special “Blue Out” t-shirts and wristbands went to the SOMC Annual Development Fund for Juvenile Diabetes.
“This money will be used to help families get to and from appointments, and help with food and other expenses,” Brown said. “These expenses often occur when you have a child with a chronic illness such as Type 1 Diabetes.”
Portsmouth Head Coach Gene Collins said there was no way he was going to turn down an opportunity to help raise awareness and funds for the chronic disease.
“My son is a Type 1 Diabetic himself,” Collins said. “So I’ve lived with the ups and downs, and the highs and lows of him being a juvenile diabetic. When I got the call from Miss Brown, there was no question, if we could work it out, we were going to do it. It’s a great cause, so it was real easy for me.”
The game was well worth the price of admission.
Portsmouth started off with a slight lead over Notre Dame, but quickly saw that lead disappear as the firs quarter came to a close. At the end of the first, the Titans had a four point lead over the Trojans, 16-12.
That lead would double by the end of the first half, as Notre Dame led Portsmouth 31-23.
“We got ourselves in a hole,” Collins said regarding the Trojans first half. “They were in the double bonus early in the game. We missed a lot of easy shots, and had a lot of turnovers.”
Collins also said that Notre Dame played a great game, and were exceptionally well in the first half.
“They created some problems for us, size wise,” Collins said. “They were a quality opponent for us.”
Portsmouth needed some energy for the second half, so Collins put in a couple younger players.
“Daniel Jordan and DJ Eley really gave us an energy and got us sparked, and got us some turnovers,” Collins said. “They kind of got the game turned around, and got us back in the game.”
By the end of the third quarter, Portsmouth had turned the corner, and taken the lead from Notre Dame, 46-44.
The fourth quarter was a battle of will, as Notre Dame attempted to keep itself within striking distance to pick up the win. With only 33 seconds remaining in the game, Portsmouth led Notre Dame 62-60. Shortly after, the Trojans were fouled and sent to the free throw line, where they made both shots, and padded their lead to four.
The Titans would answer back with a huge clutch three point shot.
Trailing Portsmouth 64-63 with only 7.7 seconds remaining in the game, Notre Dame would have a chance to win the game.
Unfortunately for the Titans, the potential game winning shot rolled out of the rim, giving the Trojans the win, as time expired.
Ky’re Allison led the offensive attack for the Trojans, scoring 28 points on the evening. Allison scored 10 from the field, and 12 from three-point land. He also made six of his 10 free throws.
Kendall Reynolds and Ethan Leonard had double digit scoring nights as well. Reynolds supplied 12 points for Portsmouth’s cause, while Leonard added 10.
For Notre Dame, Trevon Turner led the way on offense for the Titans, finishing the night with 19 points. Turner scored 10 from the field, and then sank nine of his 11 free throws.
Hattachai Buttayotee, Isiah Johnson, and Grant Sparks all finished the night with 10 or more points. Buttayotee finished with 14, Johnson with 12, and Sparks with 11.
Reach Michael Hamilton at 740-353-3101, ext 1931 or on Twitter @MikeHamilton82.
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