The Portal Panthers are on the road again on Friday and play against the Manchester Blue Devils at 2:30 p.m. on December 22nd. Both teams come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Friday, Portal slipped by Bryan County 51-50. Despite the victory, that was the fewest points Portal has scored all year.
Elijah Coleman was his usual excellent self, scoring 19 points along with eight rebounds and four steals. The game was his fourth in a row with at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Amir Jackson, who scored five points along with 11 rebounds and four steals.
Meanwhile, Manchester beat Chattahoochee County 47-36 on Tuesday. The win made it back-to-back wins for Manchester.
Daryus Bryant was the offensive standout of the match as he dropped a double-double on 16 points and 19 rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Dre McGhee, who scored nine points.
Portal's win was their 14th straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-0. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 69.5 points per game. As for Manchester, their win bumped their record up to 2-0.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Portal have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 33.6 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Manchester struggles in that department as they've been averaging 61.5 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
