Family Ties: Fowlers recall once-in-a-lifetime 2023-24 season

Colt (left) and Will Fowler (right) pose with their father, Byrnes basketball head coach Layne Fowler, after the Runnin’ Rebels region title-clinching win over Dorman on Feb. 2.

With Byrnes basketball sitting at just 4-3 on the season, losers of three of its last four games, head coach Layne Fowler needed to find a spark for his team.

He didn’t have to look far.

Fowler’s youngest son, Colt, had been coming off the bench for the Runnin’ Rebels early on in the 2023-24 season. Colt, just a freshman, was posting solid production as a reserve. But with Byrnes reeling and in need of a jolt, Layne decided to give his youngest son a shot in the starting lineup.

“I wanted [Colt] to earn it,” said Layne. “I didn’t just want to make him a starter right away, especially being just a freshman. He needed to get acclimated to the high-school game first.”

Little did Layne know it, but that simple move would prove not only vital in turning Byrnes’ 2023-24 campaign into a historic one—it turned the season into the most unforgettable of the Fowler family’s life.

OUT FOR PIZZA

Layne and his now-wife Missy Fowler jokingly recall their first date differently.

They agree on a few things. It happened while they were both playing basketball at the College of Charleston. It was some 25 years ago. The date involved them going out for pizza.

“Yep, she was really wanting me to take her out for pizza,” said Layne, laughing. “I figured, sure, if I have to.”

“That’s not at all how it went down,” Missy said, setting the record straight with a smile. “In fact, I actually turned him down at first.”

Layne begrudgingly nods his head, conceding to the truth. But after a change of heart—and some egging on from her roommates, Missy said—the College of Charleston girls basketball star eventually agreed to the pizza date.

“I ran into Layne in the parking lot a little bit later and I said, ‘Hey, you know what? I actually will go get pizza with you.’”

“She had a quick change of heart and mind, I guess you could say,” said Layne.

Fast forward 25 years later, and that change of heart led Layne and Missy down a path they may never have seen coming.

They sit next to each other in the hospitality room of the Byrnes High School gymnasium. Layne has been the coach of the boys’ team since 2010. Missy has helmed the girls’ program since 2016.

“It’s been a long journey for both of us to get here,” said Missy. “But we’ve been blessed to have each other by our sides the whole time.”

Together, the pair have three children. The oldest two—Will and Colt—both played for Layne last season.

CHRISTMAS DAY GAMES

Next year is going to be the year, Will and Colt both swear it.

They’re finally going to beat their dad in one-on-one.

“Easy money,” said Will confidently.

“Not even a question,” echoed Colt.

The Fowler household has a unique Christmas day tradition. Every December 25, Layne scrimmages both of his sons in one-on-one basketball. First to 21 points. Best-of-three series.

Layne’s never lost.

“What’s that old country song? ‘As Good As I Once Was.’ I may not be as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was,” said Layne. “If I have to dig deep one time a year to beat them in one-on-one, I’ll do it. No questions asked.”

The Christmas Day games may be labeled as “friendly competition” by the Fowler family. But once the first shot goes up, there’s nothing friendly about them.

“There are bragging rights on the line,” said Layne. “There’s one video of me hitting a game-winning jumper, and Will is mad as heck. They get so competitive.”

“Well, they can’t help it,” said Missy, laughing. “You talk so much trash during the games.”

Will nods his head vigorously in agreement.

“He talks trash non-stop. His go-to is reminding us of a game where we may have messed up in the past,” said Will. “It throws you off your game a little bit.”

Both Will and Colt’s competitive nature makes them who they are, said Layne.

Byrnes head coach Layne Fowler (top, center) coached his sons Will and Colt on his youth team. This year, he had the opportunity to coach them both on the BHS high school team.

“That’s the part of their games I love the most,” said Layne. “They’re both so competitive. Name the game: football, playing cards, going to hit putt-putt in the summer, throwing the ball off the dock at the lake. It’s always an intense competition. And it comes out the most in basketball.”

“It’s always something,” said Will. “We’re always going at it.”

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

This year with the Runnin’ Rebels, Will and Colt were able to put their competitive nature towards each other aside.

For one season and one season only, the pair of brothers played on the same high school team. After Layne decided to insert Colt into the starting lineup on Dec. 15, the Runnin’ Rebels—led by the Fowler brothers—won 22 of their next 23 games en route to a state runner-up finish.

It was a year they’ll never forget.

“I think what I’ll remember the most is the excitement they both showed for each other on the court,” said Layne. “One of them would make a big play, and you’d see the other pumping his fist and being happy for the other. You can’t fake that kind of love.”

Will and Colt echoed their dad’s sentiment.

“It’s awesome,” said Colt. “I won’t forget it. I feel like this was one of the best teams I’ll ever be a part of.”

“Being out there on the court with my brother, it was so much fun,” said Will. “We’d be at home after a game, and I’d look at him and say things like, ‘You should’ve passed me the ball in the corner on that one play,’ and jokes like that.”

With Will having graduated and now heading to Saginaw Valley State where he will play college basketball, he leaves behind a legacy mostly unmatched at Byrnes.

Together, with his younger brother, they leave behind a 2023-24 season that will be talked about for a while in Duncan.

“I always wanted to prove myself and show out for this community,” said Will. “Getting to play this one season with Colt, that’s something that rarely happens. I never thought it would.

“What we were able to have this year was pretty special. It was something that sold tickets, that’s for sure.”