All in the family Dakota’s Fust sisters top high school coaches poll, lead Lancers to provincial tourney
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There are the teams lifted up from mediocrity by their star players and then there are the talent-laden clubs that become nearly impossible to beat because of their top guns.
The Dakota Lancers varsity girls basketball squad fits into the latter category.
The Lancers, who have not lost to a Manitoba opponent in more than three years, have done so with a deep lineup supercharged by the presence of their two stars — Kyu and Izzi Fust.
The Fust sisters, rated the top two players in the Free Press annual coaches’ poll, are also highly regarded university prospects. Seventeen-year-old Kyu is a 6-foot forward who has commited to attend the University of Regina next fall, while 16-year-old Izzi, a 6-1 forward, is still pondering her future after high school.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Dakota Lancers, who have not lost to a Manitoba opponent in more than three years, have done so with a deep lineup supercharged by the presence of their two stars — Kyu (right) and Izzi Fust.
Before Kyu puts the wraps on Grade 12, the siblings hope to lead the Lancers to their second consecutive AAAA provincial title. Dakota meets the Sisler Spartans in provincial semifinal action at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday at 6 p.m.
The provincial final is scheduled for IGAC on Monday at 6 p.m.
The Lancers went 22-0 en route to a provincial title a year ago.
In 2022-23 they are 22-2, with their only losses coming on the road in Edmonton and Regina tournament finals to the powerhouse Raymond (Alta.) Comets.
“Kyu is usually one of our main defenders,” said Dakota head coach Eric Sung. “If we need somebody to mark their best player, that’s who we go to usually. Kyu has a very good ability to stay in front of somebody and she has a really good understanding of the game plan and (opponents’) tendencies as well.
FREE PRESS VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP 10
This list was compiled by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association and based on voting from a panel of high school coaches:
1. Kyu Fust, 6-0, Grade 12 forward, Dakota Lancers
Profile: A gifted athlete who is a great ball defender, guards any position and scores a variety of ways. She has an explosive first step and can get to the hoop with ease and has developed a consistent jump shot. Is superb in full-court defence and often picks off passes and creates deflections that lead to uncontested baskets.
This list was compiled by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association and based on voting from a panel of high school coaches:
1. Kyu Fust, 6-0, Grade 12 forward, Dakota Lancers
Profile: A gifted athlete who is a great ball defender, guards any position and scores a variety of ways. She has an explosive first step and can get to the hoop with ease and has developed a consistent jump shot. Is superb in full-court defence and often picks off passes and creates deflections that lead to uncontested baskets.
2. Izzi Fust, 6-1, Grade 11 forward, Dakota Lancers
Profile: A tough matchup for any opponent. Has guard-like abilities and towers over smaller players. Has great touch around the rim but can also shoot mid range. Her long frame is an assist on the defensive end as she is able to alter shots and grab rebounds. She loves to compete and make things happen.
3. Paige Schatkowsky, 5-11, Grade 11 forward, Vincent Massey Trojans
Profile: A physical forward who uses size to her advantage. Her speed and agility allow her to gain an advantage on defenders or to alter shots and grab rebounds from an offensive position. She has excellent touch around the hoop and can hit shots from anywhere on the court.
4. Anna Miko, 6-0, Grade 12 forward, Westwood Warriors
Profile: A tough matchup as she prefers to play out to the perimeter. She has good court awareness and is dangerous cutting to the rim. She has developed a consistent jump shot and can hit threes from long range. She has good touch around the rim. She is able to use her long athletic frame on defense to disrupt offences and create many turnovers.
5. Alyssa Doneza, 5-5, Grade 12 guard, Sisler Spartans
Profile: A dynamic offensive player with an explosive first step, an excellent pull-up jumper with good range from the three-point line. With excellent court vision and offensive awareness, she often attracts multiple defenders and is able to find open teammates for easy shots.
6. Amira Lawrence, 5-10, Grade 11 forward, Garden City Gophers
Profile: Tough physical presence in the paint, her athleticism and agility allow her to alter shots and grab rebounds. Has excellent touch around the basket and has developed a nice pull-up jumper this season.
7. Jennifer Kallon, 5-7, Grade 12 forward, River East Kodiaks
Profile: Athletic player with an ability to create shots for herself. She is a tough matchup because of her guard-like skills. Has an excellent mid-range game. She can put the ball on the floor and attack the hoop or pull up just inside the three-point line. An excellent transition player who likes to run in the open court.
8. Jazmin Birch, 5-10, Grade 12 forward, Beliveau Barracudas
Profile: One of the best players at AAA level. A physically tough defensive matchup, she has the ability to post up, pull up mid-range and she can also hit the open three-point shot. Birch is defensively aggressive, which often leads to opportunities for her team.
9. Halley Cruz, 5-7, Grade 11 guard, Garden City Gophers
Profile: One of the best shooters in the province. Her ability to spread out the floor helps to create opportunities for her teammates in the half court. She has excellent court vision with a high basketball IQ. She is also dynamic enough to get to the rim. A good on-ball defender.
10. Ksusha Milusheva, 5-10, Grade 12 guard, Fort Richmond Centurions
Profile: An intense guard who can get to the rim with unbelievable shooting range. Milusheva likes to push the ball in transition and is able to find time and space to get her shot off uncontested. An intense tough-on-the-ball defender, she often strips her opponents of the ball and forces turnovers.
Honourable mentions: Abby Sweeny, Grade 11 guard, Dakota Lancers; Lauryn Wilson, Grade 12 forward, Vincent Massey Trojans, Grade 12; Ava Shaw, Grade 9 guard, Oak Park Raiders; Taya Clark, Grade 11 guard, Garden City Gophers
“Izzi is a stat filler. She kind of does a bit of everything and the next thing you know, you look on the stats and she’s got a bunch of points, rebounds, steals and a bunch of blocks.”
This season, Izzi is averaging 15.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 5.8 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while Kyu (pronounced Cue) is good for 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals and one block per outing.
“Kyu’s got a really good ability to play without the basketball,” said Sung. “Her cutting and playing off the ball is really, really good. Her first step is elite — it’s one of the best first steps I’ve ever seen. Izzi, at her size, has a skillset that’s very impressive. She’s a kid that rebounds the ball and she can push it herself. She doesn’t need to pass it to the guard.”
It’s not a surprise that the Fusts come from a solid basketball lineage.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, their father, Paul Fust, played at an all-star level for the University of Manitoba Bisons, while mom Brooke (Bender) Fust played for the Winnipeg Wesmen, winning a national bronze medal in 2002.
“I think they motivated me a lot,” said Kyu, of her parents. “It’s hard though because they want you to do good, so they’re harder on you sometimes, but at the end of the day, it worked out well. It made me a better player.”
The sisters got their start while playing co-ed club basketball in primary school. While they share similar interests, they are not mirror images of one another.
“Izzi’s pretty outgoing and goofier and Kyu is definitely shyer and more reserved,” said Sung. “But on the floor, they have that same competitive fire that is unmatched.”
“Izzi’s pretty outgoing and goofier and Kyu is definitely shyer and more reserved… But on the floor, they have that same competitive fire that is unmatched.”–Dakota head coach Eric Sung
The Fusts challenged themselves last summer when they earned spots on the Toronto-based Kia Nurse Elite travelling teams, honing their skills against some top American talent.
“I think I definitely learned a lot from what they showed us,” said Izzi, who is shooting 35 per cent from three-point range this season. “There’s definitely things I need to improve on but it also gave me some confidence for when I came back.”
Kyu went on U Sports campus visits to Victoria, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Western Ontario before deciding on coach Dave Taylor’s program in Regina.
mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca
Mike Sawatzky
Reporter
Mike has been working on the Free Press sports desk since 2003.
