How Fulton held off potential upset to Fayette-Ware in TSSAA boys basketball state tournament

MURFREESBORO — Tyler Lee made arguably the most important jump shot for Fulton boys basketball on Thursday night against upset-minded Fayette-Ware. 

The newly named Mr. Basketball for Class 3A took one dribble left and stepped back for a 3-pointer at the top of the key before the third-quarter buzzer sounded. The bucket cut the defending state champions’ deficit to two points. 

“None of our shots was falling,” Lee said. “(The 3-pointer) was a big shot and that just built the energy … everybody wanted to play harder and get back in the game, and we just didn't give up at that point.”

Fulton beat Fayette-Ware 56-49 in the Class 3A TSSAA state tournament quarterfinals at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center. 

Denaj Kimber had 15 points for Fulton (33-2). Lee had 12 points. For Fayette-Ware (24-6), Tarecous Stevens had 14 points.

Fulton's state championship run last year was done dominantly as it defeated opponents by an average of 28 points in the three games. This game proved it wouldn't be as easy.

When players were asked if the possibility of being eliminated early brought a degree of nervousness, Kimber nodded. Lee said the team had felt it, but it was not too unordinary. 

“If you ain't nervous, you ain’t ready,” Lee said. “There's always gonna be a little nerves at the beginning but at the end, we're gonna be good.”

Fulton coach Jody Wright said that the close win was not a shock. 

“I knew what kind of game this was going to be,” Wright said. “I don't know if I convinced these guys how tough this was gonna be, but this game played out exactly like I thought ... I thought it would be just a grinder.”

Fulton entered the game having steamrolled its competition in the district and region tournaments. The Falcons’ quarterfinal win was their first victory by single digits since Feb. 10. Their lowest margin of victory in that span before Thursday was 29 points. 

BRACKET:TSSAA boys basketball state tournament 2024 brackets

SHANE CHERRY:How Shane Cherry's impact on Austin-East basketball is unmatched after TSSAA tournament loss

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.