Newcomb Community Rallies Behind Lady Skyhawks in Dominant Playoff Win
Story by Walter Dorman
The gym in Newcomb felt different Friday night.
Long before tip-off, a line had already formed outside the doors. Fans dressed in black waited patiently as the community answered the call for a “blackout” game, rallying behind the Newcomb Lady Skyhawks as they opened the state tournament at home.
When the doors finally opened, the energy poured into the gym along with the fans.
And when the game began, the Lady Skyhawks delivered.
Newcomb put together a complete performance on both ends of the floor, defeating Santa Fe Prep 73–44 in the opening round and advancing to the quarterfinals of the New Mexico state tournament. But for head coach Nathan Brady, the most impressive part of the night wasn’t just the scoreboard.
It was the way his entire team showed up.
“You know, I think the best thing about that win Friday night was the intensity we brought as a team from the first young lady to the 13th girl on the bench,” Brady said. “Everybody brought that mentality of one game at a time, and we didn’t leave anything like, ‘let me save it for tomorrow.’ We left everything on the court.”
That intensity showed immediately. Newcomb’s relentless defensive pressure forced turnover after turnover, allowing the Skyhawks to turn defense into quick offense and build a lead that continued to grow throughout the night.
Even when substitutions came in, the pace never slowed.
“When we rotated young ladies in, they were ready to go,” Brady said. “We didn’t have a big drop. We were able to continue that fight and keep pushing the ball. I was really pleased with the intensity, and I was pleased with our defensive effort.”
The defensive pressure was a key part of the game plan. Brady emphasized footwork and positioning, and the Skyhawks executed it nearly perfectly.
“The biggest thing that I harped on was to move our feet defensively,” Brady said. “We forced them to their left hand, forced them to use their off hand, and we found that they got rattled. Once they picked up the ball, we were able to trap, trap, trap. A lot of times we got hands on the ball and were able to take off with it.”
While the win on the court was impressive, the atmosphere in the gym may have been just as memorable.
Newcomb’s community came out in full force to support the team, filling the gym with energy that the players could feel from the opening minutes.
“It meant a lot,” Brady said. “Our school did a really good job getting the message out about the blackout, and the community responded. There was a lot of black in the stands.”
Brady even took time before the game to personally thank the fans as they entered the gym.
“As the doors opened, there was already a pretty good line outside,” Brady said. “I stayed at the door for about 20 or 30 minutes greeting people, shaking hands, and telling them thank you for supporting our girls.”
For Brady, the moment was about more than just basketball.
“I think they appreciated that,” he said. “It was a chance for us to go back and say thank you to them. The community provides unconditional support, and they love the game when it’s played the right way.”
And on Friday night, the Lady Skyhawks gave them exactly that.
Now, Newcomb turns its attention to the next challenge. The Skyhawks will travel to the Rio Rancho Events Center on Tuesday to face the No. 2 seed Santa Fe Indian School in the quarterfinal round.
For Brady, last year’s experience playing in the state tournament’s biggest stage will help.
“Last year we walked into the Rio Rancho Event Center and we were in awe,” Brady said. “It was kind of like that movie Hoosiers, where they talk about the goals being the same height. I think we got those jitters out of the way.”
This time, the focus will remain the same: defense, pressure, and patience on offense.
“If we play our style of game — good defensive pressure, sound man-to-man defense, and create turnovers that turn into easy offense — we’ll be okay,” Brady said. “And if it’s not there, we’ll bring the ball back out and be patient. Pass up a good shot for a great shot.”
For the Lady Skyhawks, the season has been built on effort, teamwork, and the lessons learned along the way.
“You know, the hard work the ladies have put in from day one has to be our calling card,” Brady said. “We tell them we’re a team and we take it one game at a time.”
Whether it’s a win or a loss, Brady hopes his players take something bigger from the experience.
“In life there are times that are going to be good, and there are times that are going to be tough,” he said. “If we win, we celebrate it for a little while. If we lose, we learn from it. But we always move forward.”
And as the Lady Skyhawks head to Rio Rancho with a chance to keep their season alive, the entire Newcomb community will be right there with them.
“We just keep reminding them,” Brady said with a smile, “three more games.”
