By Thomas Grant Jr.
A lower than expected preseason poll has a Dutch Fork team playing with a chip on its shoulder.
What was true of the state football championship team apparently rings true in girls’ basketball. The Lady Silver Foxes are off to an 8-0 start following Tuesday’s 59-42 home win over A.C. Flora.
It was the second straight win over the Lady Falcons by Dutch Fork, which is currently ranked second in the latest S.C. Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 5A Division I poll.
This is a vast improvement from the preseason poll. It ranked the Lady Silver Foxes ninth, something head coach Candace Bush said has served as motivational fuel.
“They felt like the number nine ranking was a slap in the face,” she said. “We just felt like we were better than a number nine team. So, I told them you’ve got to get out there and show them. The game’s got to be played.”
Preseason Top Five senior and last year’s Region 4-5A Player of the Year. Michaela Fairwell led all scorers with 23 points. The University of California-San Diego signee is averaging 18 points per game and is also providing well-needed on-the-court leadership, according to Bush.
“If I don’t have her on the court, then we can pretty much tell when she’s not on the court,” she said. Especially in a tight game or a game is pretty good. She kind of calms them down, brings them composure when we need a slower pace or need to get the girls in line. She helps with them.”
Along with Fairwell, Bush is pleased with the improved play from returning players like sophomore center Trinity Crumlin and junior guard Aaliyah Lee. Crumlin is nearly averaging a double-double (12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds per game) and Lee is the team’s fourth leading scorer.
Irmo transfer center Claire Howard is averaging 8.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in providing a frontcourt boost.
Keeping a high intensity level for an entire game is a concern for Bush. She said it in Tuesday’s win where her team allowed Flora to cut into a 20-point lead in the second half.
“Sometimes they rely too much on their skill leader and their talent level and they kind of back off instead of keeping their foot on the gas, which is what I’m trying to get them to do.”
After Friday’s rematch with Spring Valley, Dutch Fork will compete in the Christian Classic at Lexington High School which starts Saturday. It will open in the Gold Division against Blythewood at 4 p.m. in the new gymnasium.
The winner faces North Augusta or J.F. Byrnes in the 3 p.m. final Monday.
“So that will really show how we look against other top-ranked teams,” Bush said.
Dutch Fork boys
The boys team improved to 6-3 Tuesday following a 51-44 win over A.C. Flora.
In beating the Falcons for the second straight game, the Silver Foxes got 14 points from Bryson Taylor. Samajee Govan also scored in double figures with 13 and Caleb Garner added 10.
Dutch Fork jumped out to a 15-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Its ability to defend the basket led by forward Justus Bell kept the Falcons from reaching double digits until late in the second quarter.
Despite a second-half rally by A.C. Flora, the Silver Foxes managed to maintain its lead. A 3-point play by Govan off a Bell block enabled them to go up 46-38 with 1:27 left in the game.
Featured Photo: Dutch Fork Center Trinity Crumlin. Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.
