MILLEN — The Portal Panthers earned a measure of vengeance Friday and punched a ticket to the Region 3-A Tournament Championship game in the process.
    An undefeated streak to begin the season by Portal was ended in December by the Treutlen County’s Vikings (17-7); in Friday’s rematch, a physical Panthers team evened the score and pounded its way to a 65-61 victory in the Region 3-A Tournament semifinal game.
    One night after a monster performance against Wheeler County (17 points, 13 rebounds), Corey Reese again provided Portal (19-7) a dominating presence, scoring 19 points and reeling in 13 boards.
    Stacy Morgan led all scorers, notching 28 points.
    “Corey did a good job being physical and big, and Stacy stepped up and hit almost all of his free throws,” said Portal Coach Jeff Brannen, about his players. “I think a key to our team is having Reese play big and physical.”
    After a deadlocked first half, the Vikings were able to pull to within three of the Panthers, but could not halt Reese in the paint, or Morgan at the free-throw line.
    With four minutes remaining in the final quarter, Morgan drew a foul as he drove toward the rim, and knocked down both shots — extending the Panther lead to five.
    Two possessions later, Reese drove home the final nail, lunging at the basket and picking up a bucket and a foul. The Portal fans roared while Reese did the same.
    Reese’s basket and two more free throws from Morgan grew the Portal lead to 10 with little more than a minute remaining.
    A couple of quick scores by Vikings guard Drew Gillis, who scored a team-high 22, were not enough to complete an unlikely comeback.
    “It was a grind-em out game — real physical,” Brannen said. “They made a few runs. But, I am just proud of the guys. We held our composure at the end, and did enough to win.”
    With the win, Portal advances to the Region 3-A Tournament Championship game and will face the Jenkins County War Eagles — who will have the home-court advantage.
     “Jenkins has a lot of height. They’re our rival and it is going to be a good one,” Brannen said. “This is what we work so hard for and play all year for: to play for a region championship.”
   
    Jeff Harrison may be reached at (912) 489-9454.