Ohio Team Preview: Portsmouth Clay

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Portsmouth Clay is a very young team, but they have three starters back, including the top two leading scorers. The team is looking to make a big step forward in the program this year! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 Results:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season was a difficult year, due to having only six players and battled injuries with that. There were several weeks we played three games in a row. We finished multiple games with only four players, one game with three! And some of these games we won! The players grew so much and learned they could do things they never dreamed of! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='688294' first='Emma' last='Emnett']:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our leader and the one we ask to do anything and everything is our PG sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='688294' first='Emma' last='Emnett']. Last year she earned All -State HM, All-District, top ranked OPGH leading scorer, averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks a game. She played defense out of position in the post and did well at 5'4. <em>(Below with ball</em>, <em>Featured Photo)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1051557,"width":"382px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/EFC56ECE-B9D0-4D82-8551-865CB7A129BA.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1051557" style="width:382px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='538049' first='Sophia' last='Craft']:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='538049' first='Sophia' last='Craft'] has had two excellent years for us! She will surpass 500 rebounds in this season and averaged 9 points, 10 rebounds, &amp; 2 steals last season. Craft also earned HM All-District honors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caroline Ridenour:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore Caroline Ridenour had to grow up fast last year, learned her role on the team, and exceeded our expectations. Look for Caroline to continue her growth! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madi Hobbs:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior Madi Hobbs has unfortunately had her 1st two seasons end early in the year with injuries. She will be looked to to play heavy minutes and defend the opposing teams guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More Names To Know:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have several Freshman we will look to from game to game for scoring, rebounding, and defense! Madi Penix, Laney Peep Shepard, and Ava Demorist. Penix and Sheppard will give us much needed size in the paint and help shore up our rebounding. Ava will be able to shoot and spread the defense, as well as handle the ball at times so we can move Emma and do different things with our offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have several tough games this year. With the size of our school we have limited numbers; so playing schools with teams of 10-15 girls can be challenging. We play perennially state Ranked Portsmouth Notre Dame, and larger schools such as Leesburg Fairfield. We are relatively still a young team and we plan to work on improving and continuing to grow. In doing this we hope to have the best record that our school has had in about 10 years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things about our team- The girls that played last year know how tough last season was. The growth and toughness they learned and showed was tremendous! That season was unbelievable! With our small school, the girls are close and really get along. It's fun to see how they all interact together! That togetherness and toughness is what will help push us through the 2024/25 season. We had a team in our league drop it's program, so we are still looking to add a couple games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->