Fulton boys do enough to hold off West

Fulton High School’s boys basketball team still is searching for its offensive identity. A second consecutive championship run won’t happen without it.

But defense and rebounding will suffice, for now.

Fulton was inefficient around the basket on Thursday, but still did enough to top visiting West 66-53 in a non-district game at Jody Wright Arena.

“We missed a lot of chip shots,” Fulton coach Jody Wright said. “We’ve got to finish better. … But when you can guard people and you can rebound, you can make some things happen.”

Markese Sheely led all scorers with 14 points. Edward Lacy and DeShawn Page each scored nine for the Falcons (13-2), who shot 38 percent. Fulton is trying to defend its Class AA state title with a balanced roster of veterans and underclassmen.

The combination proved enough on Thursday, though. West’s inefficiency at the free-throw line made sure of it.

The Rebels, who made 19 of 42 free throws, raced to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter. But it wasn’t enough to withstand a string of Fulton runs.

The Falcons used a 15-4 spurt that bridged the second and third quarter, turning a 27-26 halftime lead into a 35-27 advantage.  West (12-9) tied it on a Tyrone Patterson layup with 2:45 left in the third. Fulton answered with a 12-2 run, including a pair of Lacy 3-pointers.

West was led by Jawaun Moore (12 points), Xavier Davis (11) and Patterson (11).

“It was a lot of free throws; we missed a lot of them, of course,” West coach Chris Kesler said. “Fulton (17-for-31 on free throws) is a very physical team and you’ve got to match their physicality. They’ll dominate you.”

Shooting Funk: Fulton’s Trey Davis is still working his way out of a sophomore slump. The standout guard entered Thursday shooting 30 percent (42-for-139) and only 22 percent (10-for-45) from 3-point range. The reigning Class AA state tournament MVP came off the bench to finish with 7 points on 2 of 12 shooting against West.

“I just keep believing in my shot,” Davis said. “It will fall.”

Injury Bug: Xavier Davis and Jadarious Humphrey have split time at point guard since West lost senior starter JaQuez Johnson to a fractured right foot against Fulton on Dec. 23. Kesler said Smith is expected to get his cast off next week and will be evaluated. … Fulton played without post players Cumecus Cates and Chaton Mobley, who had knee surgery. Cates is expected to return next week, which is when Wright hopes Mobley can begin practice.