Several more victories were attained last week for girls basketball, bowling, and wrestling as those three programs continue to dominate the winter.

Both girls basketball teams remain undefeated, as does girls bowling.

The MHSAA website only goes back until 2009, but you will not find a St. John’s Girls Basketball loss to Portland within that time period and with the Raiders down 23-5 in the 1st Quarter, nobody from St. John’s was expecting one on this night as well.   BUT these Lady Raiders are different!

St. John’s athleticism, full-court trapping, and fast break style jumped all over the Lady Raiders right out of the gate.   However, a time-out and a defensive switch and these current Raiders shut down the Redwing’s break and started to peck away at the huge early lead.   Jolee Pung was the key up top causing fits for the Redwings with the Raiders 1-3-1 defense and Leslie Barker and Ashley Bower were the recipients and off to the races the other way!   The Raider Birds had clawed back to within 8 by the half.

Breckyn Werner and Grace Sines grabbed big rebounds and jammed the middle and Hannah Schrauben, Jada Walton, and Josie Goodman did the dirty work on D, while Ashley Bower and Ava Gruber threw in 19 and 14 points.   The Raiders confidence was on display during the final timeout, because with 5 seconds to go and down 2 points, Barker raced down the floor, skipped a pass to Ava Gruber in the right corner for a 3 and the win as scripted in the huddle, breaking the hearts of the St. John’s squad 54-53.

Then Friday, the Lady Raiders Basketball Team and their unbeaten record flew into Eaton Rapids, a place they haven’t won in a while, to see if they could change things this year.   Shooting only 38% from the floor in the first quarter got worse in the second with the Raiders not hitting a shot!

However, “Defense, Defense, Defense” has been the name of the game with this year’s team and they turned up the pressure in the second half, with 10 steals and 5 defelections, and pulling away in the 3rd quarter.   Ashley Bower was the recipient of most of those, netting 19 points. Jolee Pung and Breckyn Werner each had 4 rebounds and along with Grace Sines clogged the middle verses the much larger Greyhound team.

The CAAC White leading Lady Raiders have big test Tuesday Jan. 15th when they travel across Lansing to face the CAAC Red power Haslett.  

The Girls JV basketball team got off to a slow start but turned it on in the second half for 49-21 victory over Eaton rapids. Ava Guilford and Liv Densmore led the way with 12 points a piece. Grace Clark added 6 and Paige Pung contributed with 3 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. The JV lady Raiders are now 7-0 on the season as the head to Haslett next Tuesday.

In wrestling, the Raider Wrestling team defeated Charlotte 67 - 9 last Wednesday night in a Home Portland PRIDE match.  Winners for the Raiders included:

Zac Fedewa, Carter Johnson, Caiden Pelc, Brendan Wartella, Trent Trierweiler, Jarod Thelen, Marty Thelen, DIllon Vroman, Hunter Hoppes, Kyle Hinds, Owen Guilford, and Ethan Guidi.

On Saturday, the Raider Wrestling team competed in a 12 team dual tournament and finished in third place.  Portland's Pool results include wins over Evart 82-0, Leslie 62-9 and Williamston 39-30.  In the Gold Pool Portland lost Carson City Crystal 16-56 and Alma 33-34 who were both state ranked.

Owen Guilford and Dillon Vroman were 5-0 for the day.  Kyle Hinds, Hunter Hoppes, Ethan Getchel and Zac Fedewa wer 4-1. Caiden Pelc and Trent Trierweiler finished the day 3-2.

The wrestlers next match is on Wednesday January 16 at 6:00pm against league rival Ionia.  We will be celebrating Senior Night where ZAc Fedewa, Ethan Getchel, Ethan Guidi, Owen Guilford, Kyle Hinds, Hunter Hoppes, And Doak Manshum will be wrestling their last home match of their careers. Please plan to attend.

In bowling, Portland’s girls team was victorious Friday over Dewitt By a score of 27 to 3.

Notable scores for Portland Jordan fine 205 Emma Armour 190 Kaylee Becker 172 Sammy Krausz 171 Jesse Whitford 170 Aubrey Martin 169. Portland’s girls dominated the day bowling some of the best scores of the season Shooting an 879 and a 833 games and  214 , 178 Baker games Very talented young lady’s Staying undefeated.

Portland boys were victorious over Dewitt by a score of 25 to 5.

Notable scores for Portland Luke Dalman 234 ,206 Jack Dalman 227 209, Bennett Rushin 201 190, Evan Warner 195 192, Jarod Huhn 177. Portland and Dewitt tied the first game at 941 Portland turned on the afterburners with 1015 second game Needing to win one Baker game to win the match Portland boys won the first baker game 246 to 229 solidifying the win.

On Sunday, Portland’s girls team came in second place in the battle of the bakers out of 16 teams. This tournament was held where Portland will be bowling their regional tournament at the end of the season.
Coach Whitford today said the girls really brought their consistency qualifying second out of 16 teams and finishing in second losing to Coloma a battle that came down to just a few pins.

Portland boys finished in third place. They had their struggles at times but were able to qualify third out of 16 teams then moved on to match play losing to St. Charles by 6 pins finishing in third place. The boys have more work to do to be as consistent as the girls team but are willing to put in the work.

Portland’s next action is today against Grand Ledge at the Wagon Wheel in Portland