PORTAL — The Portal Panthers set out on what they hope will be another successful season tonight as they travel to Screven County for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
    For the last two seasons, the Panthers have been a young team that has managed to hold their own in the always-competitive Region 3-A. This season, Portal is loaded with upperclassmen and is looking to take the next step after a pair of first round exits from the state tournament.
    “We worked hard during the summer and played plenty of games,” said Portal coach Jeff Brannen. “For us, the biggest thing was just making sure the guys were clicking together so that we can start the season on the right foot.”
    Leading the charge for the Panthers will be junior guard Stacy Morgan. As a freshman, Morgan burst onto the scene and helped a Portal squad that was supposed to be retooling clinch a No. 2 seed in the state tournament. Last season, Morgan blossomed into a deadly scoring threat that could take over a game on any given night.
    Now, as an early front-runner for another All-Region selection, Morgan will take on another role.
    “Stacy has been big for us the last two years,” said Brannen. “This season, we’re looking for him to grow into that leadership role. He’s going to be counted on to score a lot for us, but we also need him to be a steady leader on the floor every night.”
    Opponents looking to double-team Morgan will likely find trouble as the Panthers are stocked with talented guards. Akeem Oglesby – who impressed as a freshman last year – has transferred to Statesboro, but Robert Lee and Treston White are able to shoot from outside and drive the lane.
    “Those are some guys that need to play a bigger role and step up,” said Brannen. “Robert and Treston have both shown that they can help us a lot. They just need to do it consistently.”
    Once again, the Panthers will be lacking in size.
    Senior forward Corey Reese is the only player on Portal’s roster standing over 6-feet, but that’s a problem that the Panthers have constantly worked around in the past.
    “Corey can definitely be a force down low and get us points inside,” said Brannen. “But we need to adjust our game when you’ve got a bunch of guards right out there. We like to play fast and we’ll have to stay in our running lanes to play good defense and get out in transition.”
    Portal’s early schedule consists of a combination of teams from higher classifications and rivals from the other side of Region 3-A.
    The Panthers will host a 12-team tournament Dec. 27-29 before beginning sub-region play on Jan. 4.

Portal girls hope to improve

    Contrary to the Portal boys, the Lady Panthers have been mired in a series of rough seasons.
    This season, the Lady Panthers will have their third head coach in as many seasons, but Cliff Hubbard — who assumes control after two seasons as an assistant — is confident that he can get the ball rolling in the right direction.
    “Overall, we’re going to keep our system and what we try to do pretty much the same,” said Hubbard. “We just need to focus on getting better each day and being consistent in games.”
    Hubbard said that he was impressed at the teams larger-than-normal turnout for the summer season and hopes that the offseason commitment will translate into a more competitive regular season.
    Shianne Hagins — who was Second Team All-Region 3-A as a freshman two seasons ago — leads the Panthers into the season as the team’s most potent scoring threat.
    Similar to the Portal boys, the Lady Panthers lack height on the inside. At 5-foot-7, Hagins is one of the taller Panthers and will have to battle for rebounds in addition to handling the ball on offense.
    As seniors, guard Mary Lane and forward Samantha Washington bring experience and fire to the roster.
    “We want to compete,” said Hubbard. “I think that we have a good group of girls who aren’t phased by the last few years and who are very determined to win some games.”
   
    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.