Fulena comfortable in hero’s role

By JOHN D’ABRUZZO
jdabruzzo@ncnewsonline.com

The hero persona is nothing new to Tonio Fulena.

The New Castle High senior basketball player has drained a pair a game-deciding buzzer beaters this season — one against North Allegheny last Wednesday — to propel the Red Hurricane to victories.

But those situations were a breeze compared to when Fulena helped save the life of his younger brother, Micah, three years ago.

Micah was 10 at the time and had been diagnosed with leukemia. After testing was done on both Tonio and his older brother, Paul, doctors decided Tonio was the best candidate to for a bone marrow transplant.

“When they first came to us, I thought my older brother was going to be a match. Then they came back in a couple of weeks and told me I was the perfect match, so it was something I had to do,” said Fulena, who noted that his biggest fears are needles and snakes.

“I wasn’t thinking about the needles because I had to do it.”

According to Tonio, Micah is free of the disease currently, but still visits a doctor once a year for a check up.

Micah can also be found on the sidelines wearing his brother’s warm-ups or practice jersey. And lately, Tonio has been putting on a show for all of New Castle’s faithful.

He scored 11 against North Allegheny and followed with another 11-point effort against Beaver on Friday.

Against NA, Fulena notched a 3-pointer as time expired to give New Castle a 59-58 home win over the Tigers.

“I was telling him drive and get the tie, but he stopped and hit the 3. I’m glad he did now,” New Castle coach Mark Stanley joked. “It was a good shot. He doesn’t get nervous out there, so when the situation gets tight, I like when the ball is in his hands.”

For his performance, Fulena is Lawrence County’s Athlete of the Week, as selected by The New Castle News sports staff. The award is sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy.

Against Hampton the week before, Fulena hit a game-winner in the closing seconds.

“When it comes down to it, I like to have the ball,” Fulena said. “I rather have the ball in my hands than anybody else’s.”

Through seven games, Fulena is averaging 9.6 points.

“Tonio brings us a lot of energy,” Stanley said. “He goes after it every day and he works hard. I don’t think he missed a workout in two years. He is the team leader.

“He’s my security blanket, as far as players go, because I feel right when he’s out on the floor. He’s done everything we’ve asked him.”

Fulena runs the point for the ’Canes, although Stanley believes he would be better off elsewhere.

“Really, he’s out of position. We ask him to play point guard, but he’s really a (forward/center) guy,” he said. “But leadership and energy is his big thing.”

Fulena has embraced the role.

“We don’t have a set point guard, so I have taken it as my role on the team,” Fulena said. “And I think I’ve been doing pretty well so far.”

He also had embraced serving as a leader.

“At first, we came out and everyone wanted their points and everyone wanted the recognition. I pulled everyone together and told everyone that we have to play as a team if we want to win,” Fulena said. “Basically, our focus has been playing defense as a team and then sharing the wealth on offense.

“I’m just trying to pull everyone together.”