Maya McFadden Photo
Fulton pushes for a layup.
With eight minutes and 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Wilbur Cross sophomore Jackie Fulton leaped into action after a teammate missed a shot. She caught the rebound and reached up to bounce the ball off the backboard and into the hoop.
Fulton’s layup helped the Cross varsity Lady Governors chase Jonathan Law High School in a home game Friday Night — and put into place a lesson she has worked hard to learn early this season.
It’s been a slow start for the team; they lost their first six games, including Friday’s eventual 62 – 22 loss to Law. But the season’s still young, and they’re working hard to up their game and learn lessons along the way. They’re ready to rebound.
Fulton, number 11 on the court, left Friday’s game proud that she got by and stayed with her defenders and made several attempts to score the rebounds she caught. As the squad’s tallest player and center, she knows her teammates count on her under the rim, so she has spent time honing her rebounding and passing skills.
Fulton’s lesson of the day was that there’s no “I” in team.
Reflecting on the game afterwards, Fulton said she plans to work on feeling less rushed while on the court by not always taking shots but by getting better at looking up from the ball for her teammates and passing when necessary.
“Whenever I got the ball I just think of putting it in the basket,” she said.
Fulton and her teammates described the girls team at Cross as a family. She recalled being welcomed to the team her freshmen year and finally feeling “like I was a part of something.”
The players added that as student athletes they learn a lot on the court that also applies to other parts of life. They agreed they have each learned to be accountable while on a team and how to work with others.
Fulton said she feared in the start that her teammates wouldn’t like her. But instead, she said, “now I have a whole family sitting right here.”
They also have learned to focus on grades and school attendance to be sure they get play time and can stay on the team. Many described the basketball team as their “healthy outlet” and motivation to succeed in school.
Fulton, in her second year on the team, said her coaches and peers have helped her develop specific skills and her confidence.
Jackie Fulton.
Coach Deborah McClease said she saw the girls reach their full potential in the last four minutes of the game. “I’m not upset or disappointed, because I can see the team they can be,” she said.
She added that she’s proud the team didn’t give up, took criticism, and relied on each other.
“They were well composed and didn’t fall apart or blame each other,” McClease said.
After Friday’s game McClease said she will work in coming practices on passes, free throws, and avoiding turnovers. As well as getting the players’ “physical to work with their mental” by improving their stamina.
“What matters most is they stayed together and fought,” McClease said.
Fulton plans to be ready for the next rebound and layup next game on Tuesday against Foran High School.
