PHS Boys Basketball Battles but Comes Up Short Against Cougars

The Raider boys basketball team put on quite a battle against CAAC foe Lansing Catholic at home on Friday night, but came up short in the end. 

Sophomore Owen Russel came out hot shooting to start the game and helped the Raiders to a 19-15 first quarter lead with nine points, all off of three pointers. 

In the second quarter, the Cougars bounced back and began to play more aggressively, and with better execution.  Lansing Catholic lead 34-28 at the half.

The Raiders would keep it close in the third quarter, scoring 12 points while the Cougars scored 13, and the third quarter ended with Portland trailing 47-40.

The Raiders continued to battle in the fourth quarter scoring 16 points and were only down by four points with 17.7 seconds left, but they could not get the win.  The final score was Lansing Catholic 64, Portland 59. 

Score by quarter:

                    1st   2nd   3rd   4th    Final

Cougars       15   19     13     17      64 

Raiders        19    9      12     16      59

After the game, Raider head coach Dave Pettit said, “For us right now, we are competing better, our toughness is getting better, but we have to pay attention to detail.  Some key turnovers… losing guys defensively.  We gave up a wide open three at the end of the first half and a lay up at the end of the third quarter, there is five points in a five-point loss that we should not be giving up.  A couple of big turnovers when we are trying to go in transition when we’re making our run, and a couple missed defensive assignments. And for us we are a fairly young team.  Playing with young guys.  Details… for us we have to get better at the details.” 

Owen Russell was the leading score for the Raiders with 20 points, 15 on threes.  Bobby Brandsen added 14 points.  Blake Patrick nine points, Cade Parmalee five, Dean Battley and David Svanda each had three, and Joshua Salas added two.

The Raiders move to one and five on the year.  Their next game is at Eaton Rapids on Friday January 12th.  The Greyhounds are fur and three on the year.

The 2017-2018 roster:

Number  Name                            Class      Position     Height

3             Mitch Mallek                 11           G               5’7”

4             Blake Patrick                11           G               6’1”

5             Bryce Snitgen              12           G               6’0”

10           Bobby Brandsen          11           F                6’4”

12           Brock Gross                 12           G               5’6”

14           Owen Russell               10           F                6’4”

15           Cade Parmalee            11           F                6’1”

23           Dean Battley                12           F                6’0”

24           Joshua Salas               12           G               5’9”

30           Tate Dziewiatkowski    11           F                6’3”

32           David Svanda              10           F                6’3”

34           Mitch Savage               11           F                6’0”