Portageville gets payback win over Malden in conference tournament

HAYTI, Mo. — Portageville avenged an earlier-season loss by defeating top-seeded Malden in the semifinals of the Bootheel Conference Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The fourth-seeded Bulldogs (14-7) won 57-42 and were led by 13 points each from Shane Townsend and Jamarion Smith, while Mason Adams added 12 and Connor Sells chipped in 10.

“The kids came out with a vengeance tonight,” said Portageville coach TJ Smith. “They played extremely hard and executed to perfection. We are on our redemption tour. We’ve locked in on the defensive end and bought into doing the little things.”

Thomas Frakes contributed seven points and did a great job defending the post against the skilled bigs of the Green Wave (13-9).

“Being undersized most nights [Frakes] uses physicality and IQ to help,” Smith said. “Sells has been doing outstanding doing what he needs to, to help us win. He rebounds, plays D, and is knocking down some shots when called upon. Our guards have played great. Being aggressive at getting to the rim has opened up shots from the outside.”

Portageville will face second-seeded Caruthersville (11-2) in the title game on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

The Bulldogs last earned a trip to the conference championship game in 2021.

“We have a huge week coming up,” Smith said. “We host our senior night versus Kelly on Tuesday, then we got a very tough Caruthersville team on Wednesday with the conference title in the line. Then cap it off with one of the best teams in the state in Charleston on Friday.”

__PORTAGEVILLE 57, MALDEN 42__

Portageville 10 15 13 19 — 57

Malden 8 9 11 14 — 42

__Portageville (57) —__ Jamarion Smith 13, Shane Townsend 13, Mason Adams 12, Connor Sells 10, Thomas Frakes 7, Connor Jefferies 2, AJ Larry 2. FG: 21. FT: 12-19. F: 9. (3-pointers: Smith 2, Frakes 1, Adams 1, Townsend 1. Fouled out: none.)

__Malden (42) —__ Payton Woodard 17, Trey Miller 15, Marcus Burton 4, Tyronne Lee 2, Copper Thomas 2, Quamareous Farmer 2. FG: 16. FT: 4-6. F: 14. (3-pointers: Miller 3, Woodard 3. Fouled out: Burton.)