‘Like watching an NBA game.’ What it’s like to play against this freshman basketball star.
Zakiya Dukes can’t help but laugh at the frustration she sees from teams trying to guard Keenan star guard Milaysia Fulwiley.
At times, Dukes feels the same pain when she has to guard the 6-0 freshman point guard in practice.
“I laugh because that could be me sometimes. I think sometimes she takes it easy on me because I’m her teammate. She doesn’t want to break my ankles (with her crossover moves),” Dukes said Tuesday. “When I first went against her, I was a little nervous because I know she was shifty with the ball. It has made me a better defender overall and helped me.”
At practice Tuesday, Dukes showed she could hold her own and had a steal from Fulwiley to end a drill. Other teams haven’t been so lucky this season in trying to slow her down.
Fulwiley, who has offers from South Carolina, Clemson, Ole Miss, Georgia and other Division I interest, is averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season headed into Saturday’s Class 3A championship game against No. 1 Marion. The Raiders lost to Bishop England in last year’s title game.
Playing in front of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and members of the Gamecocks basketball team, Fulwiley had a career-high 54 points on 21-of-33 shooting against Wilson in the 92-77 win at the MLK Bash on Jan. 18.
In last week’s Upper State championship game against Seneca, Fulwiley scored 42 points, including 25 in the third quarter of the Raiders’ 71-49 victory. She was in foul trouble and had just 13 points in the first half but came back with four 3-pointers in the third quarter and wowed the crowd with her passing and dribbling ability.
“It is like watching an NBA game because she is so crafty with the ball,” Dukes said.
“I’m assuming she got challenged at halftime to be who she is, and she definitely was,” Seneca coach Ashlen Dewart said of Fulwiley. “She came out and had a great second half, and she’s one of those players that if she wants to show up, she’s going to show up and make a huge impact on the game.”
Fulwiley is tough to cover
Fulwiley says she patterns her game a little after Lebron James’ passing and Jimmy Butler’s quickness. She also can trash talk on the court at times like Butler.
Camden coach Natalie Norris said game-planning for Fulwiley is an unenviable task because she’s so good, especially on the defensive side. The Bulldogs faced Fulwiley twice in each of the last two years and are 0-4 against the Raiders.
“She is truly something to see, just not so much fun from the opposing bench,” Norris said this week. “Trying to game plan for her is very difficult because there is no way to truly replicate what your team is about to see. She is virtually impossible to stop in the open floor, so you hope that your team can score and force them to take the ball out of bounds to slow her down a bit.”
Marion first-year coach Crasten Davis called the Class 3A Player of the Year one of the best players in the state at any level and hopes to slow her down in the title game by limiting her and the Raiders’ opportunities in transition.
Bishop England was able to do it last year, running different defenders at Fulwiley and holding her to 18 points in the title game.
“Our main focus is to win the championship,” Fulwiley said. “Last year, we came up short and don’t want to repeat last year. I was very sad after last year. We came the whole way for nothing. I know the winners get a trophy and losers get nothing so I’m not trying to lose.”
Championship schedule
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
Tickets: $12 per person (5 and younger free). Clear bag policy in effect.
Watch: Games will be broadcast statewide on Sinclair Broadcast stations and locally on WACH Fox 57.2 and 1250. The Dutch Fork game will be on WACH Fox. Games will be on www.nfhsnetwork.com (Subscription required)
Friday
Class 2A Girls
North Charleston vs. Christ Church, 3:30 p.m.
Class 2A Boys
Gray Collegiate vs. Whale Branch, 5 p.m.
Class 5A Girls
Clover vs. Goose Creek, 7 p.m.
Class 5A Boys
Dorman vs. Dutch Fork, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Class A Girls
High Point Academy vs. Military Magnet, 10:30 a.m.
Class A Boys
Great Falls vs. Scott’s Branch, noon
Class 3A Girls
Keenan vs. Marion, 2 p.m.
Class 3A Boys
Keenan vs. Wade Hampton, 3:30 p.m.
Class 4A Girls
North Augusta vs. South Pointe, 5:30 p.m.
Class 4A Boys
Ridge View vs. Myrtle Beach, 7 p.m.
