‘A bigger goal in mind’: Molded through tragedy, Fort Mill chases boys’ basketball title
Fort Mill boys’ basketball has a particularly tight bond this season.
Winners in 12 of their past 13 games, the Yellow Jackets are among the best teams in South Carolina. Their potent offense’s scoring has reached the half-century mark in all but two games thus far, and they’ve knocked off some of the area’s top contenders.
And their chemistry off the court is just as strong.
There’s a family atmosphere this season at Fort Mill, which is currently 16-2 and plays at Nation Ford at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Players are often hanging out together outside practices and games, and their brotherhood translates to the floor.
“It feels different this year,” senior guard Logan Parker, a recent Rock Hill Herald athlete of the week, said after the Yellow Jackets turned back Indian Land in the final seconds Friday on the road. “Wins feel different. Even our two losses felt different than they did last year. Even practices feel different. Film sessions, everything, you can tell we’ve got a different goal in mind. We know how far we can go. We know how good we can be.
“We’re taking it one step at a time, but at the same time, we know there’s a bigger goal at the end.”
Molded through tragedy
An unthinkable set of circumstances hit Fort Mill over the summer.
Logan Gurley, a 16-year-old who was entering his sophomore year at Fort Mill, drowned on the South Carolina side of Lake Wylie.
He’d been swimming with friends last July. He was expected to be a key player for this Yellow Jackets team.
“Those are the things that just keep building us together,” Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery said. “Through tragedy, we had a lot of crazy different things happen to us at the beginning of the season. We just never seemed like we could get in the right flow. As soon as something felt all right, something else would happen. Something else would happen.
“And I think we’re finally hitting that stride, but it doesn’t get any easier. We’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m really proud of these guys. They do a great job.”
‘That bond makes a huge difference’
The Yellow Jackets talk.
Be it in meetings, film sessions, practices or even just inside the building during the school day, Fort Mill’s players and coaches are close.
Coping with a tragedy of this nature is crushing. The young men’s courage — and ability to lift one another up — has been impressive.
It’s led to a particularly balanced offensive unit on the floor, in which four of the Yellow Jackets’ starters are averaging double figures. There just aren’t any jealousies, or players arguing about who’s getting shots, and it’s evident that the group has a bigger goal in mind.
“From coaches to players, players to players, we spent a lot of time together,” Lowery said. “We spent a lot of time in meetings, talking about a variety of things. We meet before every practice. I think that bond makes a huge difference, because they all trust each other and believe in each other, and that makes those little things happen.”
Fort Mill is motivated to win its third SC state title
The high school, established in 1930, has one of its best shots at glory.
Fort Mill sits atop the Region 3 5A standings with a perfect 5-0 conference record. It was eliminated in the second round of last year’s Class 5A state tournament by James F. Byrnes — the Rebels are currently unbeaten and ranked the No. 1 team in South Carolina.
Winners of the Class 2A state championship in 1974 and the Class 4A title in 2007, the surging Yellow Jackets are chasing school history.
Considering what the community has endured, and the potential of its talented boys’ basketball squad, this is a special 95th year at Fort Mill High School. No matter how the season ends.
“Senior year, you’re playing with all your best friends, it’s something you’re going to remember for the rest of your life,” Parker said. “Anytime something goes down, we’ve got a bigger goal in mind. Somebody has their head down, we pick them up and stuff like that. Everybody’s looking out for everybody, everyone likes everyone.
“Now it’s just about making it all the way to March. It’s gonna be a long eight months but at least it’s enjoyable, especially if we walk out with the state championship.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
