Back-to-Back! Keenan girls hold on for second straight championship
It takes a lot to get MiLaysia Fulwiley nervous, but she admitted to having some nerves late in Friday’s Class 3A championship game.
But the Keenan High School guard and her teammates stayed composed down the stretch at the USC Aiken Convocation Center as the Raiders held off Bishop England 62-55 to win their second straight championship.
“It’s very hard to get me scared. I got scared a little bit,” Fulwiley said. “But I told my teammates let’s go wrap this thing up and do what we have to do.”
It was the Raiders’ fifth title but the first time they have won two in a row in girls basketball. Keenan defeated Mullins 51-28 last season. Keenan coach Reggie McLain talked about the importance of winning two in a row Friday during his pregame speech to his team.
The Raiders have made it to the championship game in five of the last six seasons, a trend that’s likely to continue with Fulwiley just a sophomore.
Fulwiley, the five-star prospect for the Class of 2023, scored 29 points and hit some big free throws for the Raiders in the final minute.
“I can’t even put it words,” McLain said of Fulwiley. “She makes a lot of plays and some we don’t even have to draw up for us.”
Keenan scored the first 14 points of the game and led 37-23 at halftime. Fulwiley had 17 points in the first half, including a pair of NBA-range 3-pointers.
The Raiders led by as many as 19 in the second half. Bishop England, which was making its eighth finals appearance in the last 10 years, rallied and capitalized on the Raiders’ cold shooting in the second half.
Keenan shot just 21% in the second half and had several defensive breakdowns that led the easy Bishop England baskets.
Bishop England got within 58-55 with 51 seconds left, but Fulwiley hit three free throws to put the game away.
“We knew they had a good team and were going to make a comeback especially in the state championship game.” McLain said. “We missed a lot of easy shots down the stretch. We broke down a little bit defensively and I thought we got a little fatigued. But we stepped up and made some plays.”
Tamrya Davis added 14 points for the Raiders and Jailyn Oree had 13 rebounds.
Lily Woods led Bishop England with 21 points and Alli Dominiak added 18, including 14 in the second half.
Bishop England was hoping to cap off the season with a title for coach Paul Runey, whose wife died a week ago. But Runey said the poor start was too much to overcome.
“Hats off to Keenan, they’re a really good team. We just dug ourselves too much of a hole early,” Runey said. “I thought the girls really gave a fantastic effort. We were able to cut it down to three but stopping Fulwiley just was next to impossible tonight. She’s a difference maker.”
K: Lewis 8, Tamyra Davis, M. Johnson 2, MiLaysia Fulwiley 29, Oree 8, S. Johnson 1. BE: Jaiha Williams 5, Alli Dominiak 18, Lily Woods 21, Schar 9, Tarrant 2.
SC Basketball Championship Schedule, scores
Wednesday, March 3
Class 2A Girls
Saluda 61, Silver Bluff 41
Class A Boys
Southside Christian 66, Scott’s Branch 45
Thursday, March 4
Class 4A Girls
Westside 44, North Myrtle Beach 30
Class 3A Boys
Marlboro County 71, Seneca 60
Friday, March 5
Class 5A Girls
Sumter vs. Clover, ppd.
Class 3A Girls
Keenan 62, Bishop England 55
Class 2A Boys
Christ Church vs. Wade Hampton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 6
Class 4A Boys
Hilton Head Island vs. South Pointe, noon
Class A Girls
Southside Christian Military Magnet, 4 p.m.
Class 5A Boys
Dorman vs. River Bluff, 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published March 5, 2021 at 6:01 PM.
