By Thomas Grant Jr.
The transition from longtime girls’ basketball coach Fanny Norris to first-year coach Candace Bush has produced a familiar, winning result so far at Dutch Fork.
Despite having a five-game winning streak snapped Jan. 6 in a 60-39 loss to Thomson, Ga., the Class 5A fourth-ranked Lady Silver Foxes are still off to their best start in a decade at 14-3.
Ironically, it was 10 years ago when Dutch Fork completed a 29-0 state championship season. As the team turns its attention to Region 4-5A play, Bush continues to push the players to their full potential.
“I always have high expectations for any team I coach and coming in here at Dutch Fork was no different,” Bush said. “I set the bar high, and I must say at this point in the season, they are reaching those expectations.
“As always, there is room for improvement. But I expect those small kinks to work themselves out as we move into region play.”
Bush is not the only new face providing a boost to the Lady Silver Foxes. Out-of-state transfer swingman Michaela Fairwell has emerged as the team leader in scoring (13.3 points per game), and steals (5.2 per game).
The 5-11 junior has posted three double-doubles this season and came within a rebound of a triple-double in a 75-3 rout of Dreher on Dec. 8
Guard Antoinett Cheeseboro is second on the team in points (12.9 per game) and steals (3.1 per game) and tops in assists. She’s joined in the backcourt by another senior Aaliyah Lee, while power forward Christyonna Jackson provides rebounding and scoring in the low post.
“Our seniors are giving us good production on both ends of the floor,” Bush said.
Starting next week, Dutch Fork turns its attention towards another goal – a region title. Since the Lady Silver Foxes’ last won the region in 2017, Lexington has claimed five straight titles. This includes clinching last year’s Region 4-5A championship on the Lady Silver Foxes’ home floor in a 39-38 victory.
The two teams meet again in Irmo on Jan. 23. This year’s region champion will earn a top seed in the Class 5A Lower State playoffs.
“Winning the region title was one of the goals we set as a team, when I came in,” Bush said. “They were very close to winning it last year but fell short by just a few points. So we feel like we are in a good position to win it this year.”
Dutch Fork returns to action with back-to-back road games starting Friday at White Knoll.and Saturday versus Goose Creek in the MLK Showcase at Bethune-Bowman High School in Bowman.
Feature photo: Dutch Fork’s Michaela Fairwell dribbles to the basket against Spring Valley.
