Nyah Williams is playing her first season for Newburgh’s girls’ varsity basketball team after the junior played two years of junior varsity ball for the Lady Goldbacks.

“She is one of the hardest workers I have on my team,” said Arturo Santana, Newburgh’s coach. “Defensively, offensively.”

Williams is a shooting guard, and she scored 5 points during a 61-40 loss to Valley Central in Montgomery Monday, Jan. 28. And she scored those 5 points in the fourth quarter with a three.
Williams prepares to play with a lot of work. She readied for her first varsity season by practicing with the squad during sessions in the off-season and during the few weeks prior to the start of the regular season.

“She comes to off-season practices, preseason practices,” said Santana. “If she can make it, she is there.”

And as Williams has demonstrated with her three against Valley Central, she can land an open shot.
“If you leave her open,” said Santana, “she will light it up.”

Williams started playing basketball in third grade, and she has worked her way up to being a starter during her first varsity season with the Lady Goldbacks.

“I just like the sport,” she said.

The Lady Goldbacks have played well at times this season when the offense and defense have worked well together to guarantee the team a victory. The loss to Valley Central dropped the Lady Goldbacks to 4-9, and Williams is learning how much higher the competition is this season on the varsity level after playing two seasons on the junior varsity level.

“It’s a lot more intense,” she said.

And as she has worked her way through her first varsity season, Williams has learned what she needs to do to improve her game.

“I need to drive more,” she said, “be more aggressive.”