Portageville drop second straight game

Sunday, January 16, 2005

PORTAGEVILLE - In a battle of Bulldogs, South Pemiscot upset Portageville 50-45, giving Portageville (11-3) its second defeat in two nights and it came on Portageville's homecoming.

South Pemiscot never trailed in the game. Anthony Patton canned a 3-pointer to start the scoring in the contest at the 5:06 mark of the first period followed by a bucket by Chance Rucker to lead 5-0.

Patrick Morton connected for Portageville with a bucket and Willie Hassell, who had 12 points in the contest, canned two free throws to pull the Portageville Bulldogs to within one. They would get that close again only one more time. They trailed 11-6 after one.

In the second quarter, Portageville showed some signs of life and cut the South Pem lead to 13-12 at the six minute mark of the stanza. But a South Pemiscot 10-0 run in the final 2:50 put the visitors ahead by a 31-20 halftime lead. Anthony Jones led the visiting Bulldogs with 17 points. Matt Boone collected eight.

"We're struggling right now, but hopefully we'll bounce back," said Portageville coach Jim Bidewell. "I'm at a loss, but I think if we keep our attitudes right and stay focused, we'll be all right."

Portageville began the third period with a modest 5-0 run to cut the lead to 31-25, but South Pemiscot answered with six of its own to increase the lead to 37-25 at the 3:15 mark of the quarter.

Portageville cut the lead to five at the end of the third quarter 38-33.

South Pemiscot increased its lead in the first five minutes of the final quarter to lead 46-37.

Portageville's Antonio Scott tallied six straight points on three buckets and his team trailed by a 46-43 count with 2:55 remaining.

Anthony Patton responded with a trey for South Pemiscot to make the lead six to end Portageville's hope of a comeback. Portageville's jayvee remained undefeated by downing South Pemiscot 51-44.

Portageville will try to get back on the winning track Tuesday night when it will host Richland.

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