PORTAL — For the third consecutive season, the Portal Panthers have reached the quarterfinals of the Class A state playoffs.
    Today, the Panthers (21-7) will hit the road for the tall task of taking on the Greenville Patriots (26-2). As the No. 2 seed in the bracket, the Patriots are the highest-ranked team that the Panthers have run into during their three-year run.
    Both teams had very little trouble last weekend in the opening round of the tournament. No. 7 Portal dispatched No. 10 Taylor County by a count of 78-58 while the second-seeded Patriots demolished No. 15 Lanier County in an 85-49 rout.
Despite Greenville’s intimidating record, plenty of teams have had a chance to beat the Patriots.
    Of their 26 wins, 11 have been a two-possession game at the final buzzer and the Taylor County team that the Panthers easily handled lost its three region matchups against Greenville by a total of eight points.
For most of Portal’s roster, this is the final crack at glory.
    Among the Panthers’ biggest threats are point guard D’Von Moore, sharpshooter Akeem Oglesby and forward Trent Thomas — all seniors.