Lady Foxes point guard outruns and outguns competition

In a number of sports, there is a theory that speed kills. In basketball, that proves to be a true statement time and again.
With a 23-2 overall record, the region 8-2A champion Marion Lady Swamp Foxes is a versatile team using speed to their advantage with senior point guard Shaquita “QT3” Taylor leading the charge.

Small in stature, Taylor has a fierce competitive spirit cloaked with a baby face smile. And she uses her blazing speed and quickness to her fullest advantage.
During the course of 32 minutes, she keeps defenders back peddling and in her rearview mirror as she often breaks down court for uncontested lay-ups.

An asset in the Lady Foxes transition attack, “QT3” is also deadly from behind the three-point arc with incredible range. She’s also been on fire as of late, averaging almost 13 points per game with multiple 20-point performances.

A starter since her freshman year, it’s been a steady climb for the scorer, which will include four consecutive playoff appearances, over 1,000 career points, and quite possibly a state championship.
Taylor said she began playing the game at seven years old, influenced by her aunt Rosland Clark and uncle Anthony Clark, two former Mullins varsity basketball players. Her grandmother Carolyn Clark is an avid sports fan, contributing years of support to local teams, even volunteering her time during games at various schools and the Mullins recreation department.
“She gives me a lot of support and is at every game. Knowing that I have my family along the way, it’s something that is pretty good,” Taylor said her family, including her mom Keisha and stepfather Terry Brantley.

Over the years, the lone senior player is proud of how the program has improved. “This year’s team is pretty good, working together, and basically all of us grew up together playing middle school basketball,” she said. “We want to win, so we can hang a state championship banner this year,” she said, adding that the first goal was to become region champs.
Taylor says her role is to provide leadership and encouragement. However, adding a scoring punch to the Lady Foxes offense is something she loves to do. She continues to improve her ball handling, free throw shooting, and getting teammates involved.

Taylor realizes that her speed and shooting are her best attributes, and patterns her game after Boston Celtics shooting guard and South Carolina native Ray Allen.
“Quita has played at this program for four years and ended up scoring over 1,000 points, that hasn’t been done in awhile,” coach Leon Sturkey said, adding that she has been instrumental in everything that the program has tried to accomplish and will be hard to replace. Taylor says she loves how Sturkey coaches the team. “He gets out there and lets us know what it takes to win. If you can get an award for the best high school coach, he would get that award,” she said, adding that the program will remain successful.
“After school I want to go to college and play basketball, taking up a major in education to become a coach,” she said of her future goals, mentioning that she has developed an appreciation for her math courses.

Facts about QT3:
1. She likes the latest Grammy winning CD from Lil Wayne.
2. She likes the latest Air Jordan Air Force One Fusion sneakers.
3. She respects every contender, but commends the game playing ability of Lady Auc Brittany Applewhite, Lady Warrior Xai Xai Boatwright, former Latta opponent Ruby Lee Wright, and former teammate Rhodi Gause.
4. Favorite NBA players are Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson.

Lady Foxes coach Leon Sturkey presents Shaquita Taylor with the game ball from Marion's Feb. 9 game against Cheraw. Taylor, pictured alongside her mother Lakisha and stepfather Terry Brantley on senior night, has scored over 1,000 points during her high school basketball run.