Lady Goldbacks clinch playoff berth

By Bond Brungard
Posted 2/14/19

Newburgh’s girls’ basketball team made a late run for a postseason berth in 2018, only to come up short and stay home.

Playing Middletown Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Lady Goldbacks tipped …

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Lady Goldbacks clinch playoff berth

Posted

Newburgh’s girls’ basketball team made a late run for a postseason berth in 2018, only to come up short and stay home.

Playing Middletown Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Lady Goldbacks tipped the game off with a 5-10 record, and beating the Middies would finally give Newburgh that Class AA playoff berth that eluded the team last year.

The defense went to work early, limiting the Middies to just a point in the first quarter. After scoring 11 points in the first quarter, the Lady Goldbacks kept up the pressure on both ends to lead 20-5 at the half.

The Lady Goldbacks were able to contain the Middies in the second half before winning 40-24.

“We’re happy we made sections,” said Arturo Santana, Newburgh’s coach. “Anything can happen in sections.”

Nyah Williams and Ny-Ajha Brown led the Lady Goldbacks with 10 points. Gabby Palladino scored 7 points for the Lady Goldbacks, while going 5 for 7 from the foul line.

“The tenacious defense, I think, was a little too much for them,” said Santana. “And we made baskets.”

The Lady Goldbacks improved to 6-10 overall, and the team is 3-2 in their division. Monroe-Woodbury is leading the division with an overall 11-4 record and a 3-1 league record.

And that Crusaders’ league loss came at the hands of the Lady Goldbacks in Newburgh during one of their best games of the season.

“I am an believer of who is hot at the right time,” said Santana. “When we play well, I think we can play with anybody.”