Jackson County basketball player Claire Williams said she has added a new layer to her game throughout the course of her senior season, one that did not always come naturally.
Once hesitant to shoot from beyond the arc, Williams has turned the three-point shot into a strength thanks to encouragement from head coach Jim Brown. Williams said she initially preferred to operate inside the line, a habit formed during her middle school years when her height gave her an advantage closer to the basket.
“I used to never shoot threes. I kind of refused to do it,” Williams said. “And then [Coach Brown] would just push me to shoot threes, kind of yell at me, but I needed to be yelled at, and I feel like that’s what I do good now.”
Williams is one of four seniors on the roster. Williams said this season has allowed the Lady Blue Devils to grow together in ways she did not always think would be possible.
“We kind of like learn how to play with each other during those games,” Williams said. “We just go out and play, so we kind of get the feel of the game.”
Williams said that freedom, paired with consistent competition, has helped her and her teammates discover new strengths.
“It’s good to get experience and play against different people,” Williams said. “They’re really competitive and we kind of learn how to play with each other during those games.”
Williams and the Lady Blue Devils will take part in the region tournament finals Wednesday night. A win there will see Williams play one more game in Gainesboro with a spot in the state championship on the line.