Malaysia Fulwiley of Keenan High (Columbia) is a special and transcendent talent in girls basketball. One of the nation's top ranked prospects of the class of 2023 showed why she has been getting D-1 offers since middle school. The defending State Champs advanced to another State Finals appearance downing a gritty Southside Lady Tigers squad 62-52 on Monday night at Bob Jones University.
It was a barrage of buckets from Fulwiley to open the game, as she scored 10 and Keenan opened the game on a 12-2 run. Southside settled in a bit from there but couldn't shake cold early shooting and trailed 14-6 after the 1st quarter. Fulwiley would put up 25 in the 1st half solely outscoring the Southside squad in the 1st 16 minutes. Keenan took a 35-21 lead into the halftime locker room. Keenan led by as many 16 in the 1st half.
Southside wasn't done though, as they fought and clawed their way back into it in the second half. The Lady Tigers opened the 2nd half on a 6-0 run. They outscored Keenan 20-14 in the 3rd, to cut the margin to 8 at 49-41 after three quarters. With 3 minutes left in the game, Southside cut the lead down to 6, but that was as close as they would come. Fulwiley answered with a bucket to extend the lead and Keenan would put the game away 62-52.
Fulwiley finished with 40 points, 10 boards, 6 assists and 5 steals. For Southside Kamari Thompson had a double-double, the Junior and two time All State selection had 18 points and 14 boards. Jakayla Lorick added 10 for Southside. Southside's tenacity on the offensive glass is what kept them in the game. They had a 19-9 advantage on the offensive boards.
The loss ends Southside's season with a record of 22-4, they went 9-1 in league play winning the Region 2 3A Title. Keenan will look for their 3rd straight State Title on Friday, it'll be an all Mid-lands match up as they square off with Camden. That game is set for a 6 PM tip off Friday at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center.
