Bulldogs’ veteran know-how drives ambitious goals

With a deep-seated competitive spirit and a relentless work ethic, the Portageville boys’ basketball team is determined to achieve greatness on the basketball court.

Driven by a culture of unwavering commitment and a relentless pursuit of excellence, the Bulldogs are poised to extend their remarkable streak of seven consecutive winning seasons.

“Our goals are similar to every year at Portageville,” said second-year Portageville coach TJ Smith. “It starts with winning the Clarkton Holiday Tournament. Then we set our eyes on Bloomfield. We want to play four days there, giving ourselves a chance to win it. Then conference play where we want to compete for a championship. We made the championship game last year and our goal this year is to win it. Post-season play is always questionable until the classifications come out, but we want to be playing our best ball at the end of the year with hopes of making a run.

The team’s goals are ambitious but achievable, and with their talent, dedication, and coaching staff, they have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs. The Bulldogs will face some tough competition, but they are confident in their ability to succeed.

“This will be a fun group to coach,” Smith said. “The kids play extremely hard and love to compete. We will have some growing pains early but, it will be like last year and we will just hit the ground running. I expect us to compete night in and night out, with hopes of some tournament success throughout the year.”

Serving as the backbone of the Bulldogs’ lineup are seniors Jamarion Smith, Mason Adams, and Connor Jefferies. Smith, a dynamic guard, averaged 13 points per game last season and earned an All-Bootheel Conference selection. With his sharpshooting skills and ability to create plays for his teammates, Smith is poised to play a pivotal role in the Bulldogs’ offensive attack.

Adams, a versatile forward, brings a wealth of experience and physicality to the team. His ability to rebound, defend multiple positions, and score in the paint makes him a valuable asset on both ends of the court.

Jefferies, another strong presence in the paint, will be a key contributor for the Bulldogs this season. His size, athleticism, and defensive prowess will be crucial to the team’s success.

“[Smith] handled the ball for us a lot last year,” Smith said. “He was in the gym all summer working on his game, hoping to expand on his role this season. [Adams] doesn’t fill the stat sheet in basketball like he does football or baseball, but he is an extraordinary leader and he came to the gym a lot this summer working on his jump shot. We’re hoping to be able to add scoring from the outside to his game. [Jefferies] is undersized for a center, but is crafty as they come scoring in the paint. He has a dog mentality, probably from dominating in the trenches in football, that helps him defend the paint as well. He is a kid who loves basketball and has always been a student of the game. That IQ also helps him be successful on the hardwood.

Complementing the experienced core are seniors Brandon West, Aaron Dunlap, and AJ Larry, who each gained valuable experience last season and are ready to make significant contributions this year. With their increased playing time and familiarity with the system, these players are poised to play crucial roles in the Bulldogs’ success.

”[West] is a hard-working kid that loves basketball,” Smith said. “He will help us stretch the floor by knocking down some shots and will guard his tail off. [Dunlap] will help us handle the ball, knock down shots, defend, and rebound. He is an exceptional rebounder from the guard spot. He always has a knack for where the ball is going and uses his athleticism and leaping ability to just go get it. [Larry] is our big boy. Standing about 6-foot-5-inches, he will be a load to deal with. He has gradually gotten better with his post-game over the last three years, and I look to get some production from him this year.”

Portageville opens its season against Covington (Tenn.) in the RiverBend Shootout at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25.