The Portal Panther basketball teams capped off their seasons on a high note Saturday night, sweeping away ECI’s squads by scores of 39-33 for the girls and 50-38 for the boys to end their regular season.
    The games represented different milestones for either side. First and foremost the ladies needed the win for pure morale. It was only their fifth of the entire season, and it capped a sweep of their nearby rivals of the season. Even if Saturday’s win over ECI wasn’t as thrilling as their first go-around where Kolbie Motes hit a game-winning layup with ten seconds left, this one may have been better.
    “We were really relaxed today,” said assistant coach Cliff Hubbard. “We were clapping in the locker room, everyone was upbeat. We’re just really happy for the girls.”
    Senior Arieanna Wiggins couldn’t have played a better game in what would most likely be her last home game as a Panther. She scored a career high 16 points -- also tying the season high for a Panther this season -- while adding six rebounds on the night. Portal would shoot a season high 46 percent on the night, including a season high 31 percent from deep.
    Portal dominated the baseline Saturday night -- shooting 55 percent (15-27) along the back of the basket including two three from the corners by Wiggins.
    The season itself was a chore for Portal. Of the 25 games they played in, 11 resulted in losses of 30 or more points with another four resulting in losses of 40 points or more. A lack of offensive continuity, turnovers and general inexperience plagued the Lady Panthers all season.
    Even knowing all of that, a three-game winning streak back in December and Saturday where perhaps the only highlights for the Lady Panthers this season. Saturday could prove to be a big momentum boost for the girls as they take on Claxton Monday in the region 3-A play-in game. The Lady Panthers were swept by Claxton in the regular season, losing by a combined deficit of  points.
    “We’re going to have to find whatever we had tonight and muster it for Monday,” Hubbard said. “These girls have never beaten Claxton before, so that would definitely be the highlight of our season.”
    As for the boys they’ll cap off their regular season with a nine game winning streak -- the longest active streak running in the county. It’s their best regular season finish since 2013 when the Panthers made it to the final four.
    “It’s always good when you can close out the season the way we did,” said head coach Jeff Brannen. “We still have another step though before we can get ready for the playoffs.”
    The Panthers were led by Timmy Williams, who led both teams in scoring with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Ronald Williams followed behind with nine points and nine rebounds while Connor Washington chipped in eight. Portal held ECI to a mere 32 percent (15-47) shooting from the field and just 20 percent from downtown.
    The finish gives Portal a final regular season mark of 18-7 and 9-3 in region. Nine in a row is a great sign come tournament time, and Brannen thinks his team is playing their best basketball of the season.
    “We’re playing very good basketball right now, but we can still be better,” Brannen said. “I know for a fact we can lean on our defense to carry us, even with our offense playing better lately.”
    Portal will be seeded No. 2 on their side of the subregion and are set to play Claxton in the first round of their region tournament on Thursday. Those are all tentative details as for now, Portal will know their final fates by Sunday afternoon.
   
Statesboro Wrestling
    First year head coach Bo Viness continued to nice debut season as Statesboro’s head wrestling coach, as he’s now got three wrestlers headed to Macon next weekend to compete in the state championships.
    Kasey Baynon, Myracle Salinas and Corey McCullough all placed in the top eight at sectionals Saturday night -- making them the first three wrestlers in the history of Statesboro High School to represent the Blue Devils. Baynon placed fifth at 113, Salinas was eighth at 152 and McCullough finished seventh at 220.
    Gabe Hardy (106), Xavier Schoot (126) and CJ Simmons (195) all placed ninth, meaning they’re alternates for the state championships if someone in their respective classes has to drop out.
    For now, Baynon, Salinas and McCullough will head to Macon on Thursday to compete for a state title or even simply place top eight -- another first for any wrestler in the program’s young history.
   
SEB Basketball
    SEB’s basketball teams would split their doubleheader with Bryan County Saturday night, with the boys winning 72-60 and the girls falling 73-43.
    Aaron Houston scored 23 points for the boys, followed by Pierless Brown with 19. Desean Taylor chipped in 14 while Caleb Carter scored six points and grabbed ten boards. SEB finishes their regular season 9-16 and 5-9 in region.
    Sara Howard led the way for the ladies with 14 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. Krystyn Turner added ten points and seven boards while Jayden Smith added eight. That’ll give SEB a 9-13 regular season finish and a 7-7 mark in region.
    Both teams will wait on a coin toss Sunday to see whether or not Southeast Bulloch will host the region tournament. If SEB’s girls lose the toss, they’ll be seeded fifth and will host both boys and girls tournaments. If they win, the girls will claim the fourth seed but the region tournament will be hosted in Savannah. Either way, the boys will be the sixth seed.
   
Portal Swimming
    Portal swimmer Austyn Woods capped her trip to the state championships by shredding the personal best time of 25.13 she set Friday by swimming a 23.48 in the 50 meter freestyle to finish ninth in her division.
    Woods’ division includes all swimmers from class 1A to class 5A, and she’s only a freshman. She placed second in her heat with a time of 24.86, beating her PR from Friday as well.