Williams leaves foes blue
Sophomore has taken her skills to new heights, ranking 3rd in section at 25.4 points per game
VALATIE — Carolina Williams is a softspoken sophomore guard who wields a loud on-court game featuring her ability to get to the basket and score, setting up teammates for quality opportunities and tremendous defensive prowess. Oh, yes, the Ichabod Crane star also has the unique first name.
Williams was a standout on the hardcourt as a freshman, but has elevated her all-around game to new levels this season. She ranks third in Section II in scoring at 25.4 points per game. The sophomore also leads the Riders with averages of 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.7 assists per game.
“Basketball is her true love and her goal is to get a Division I scholarship,” Ichabod Crane coach Dave Ames said. “The girl does not quit.”
Williams did not have to look far to find hoops inspiration. Marc Williams, a 1991 graduate of Columbia who was a multisport star for the Blue Devils and is a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, has helped develop his daughter into a top-flight competitor.
“He has been really important and has driven me,” Williams said of her father. “We do a lot of workouts together and he pushes me to be the best I can every day. That is really important.”
Williams, who helped the Riders’ softball team capture a Class B state title in 2022, is looking to lead the girls’ basketball team to a sectional crown. Third-seeded Ichabod Crane (16-5) meets sixth-seeded Broadalbin-perth (16-5) in Class B quarterfinal action Wednesday at Catskill.
The relentless pursuit of excellence has defined Williams’ athletic career. She made the school’s varsity soccer team as an
eighth-grader, but has decided to focus on basketball and softball. She earned Times Union Small School secondteam honors for both basketball and softball as a freshman.
Ames wanted Williams to focus on improving her perimeter skills. She has not only enhanced her shooting skills, her ability to cause havoc off the dribble completely confounds opposing defensive units trying to contain her.
“I have come a long way since last year. I am shooting a lot more from the outside and that has opened up my game,” Williams said. “Last year, I wasn’t scoring as much. I am scoring a lot more and doing a lot more for my team this year. I think I have taken a huge step.”
“There are so many times when I see her get in the middle of a zone and a couple of defenders will come up to her in the paint and she will just work around them,” Ames said. “She is able to get position on them and make a layup. She doesn’t go too fast, she plays under control and she
keeps her dribble, which I think is the biggest thing with her. She is never picking it up and always looking to get to the basket.”
Williams, who began playing basketball in third grade, displays advanced basketball IQ as both an offensive and defensive performer. Ames, who said his sophomore star averages nearly eight deflections per game, has watched Williams knock down 25 3-pointers. That total is second on the team behind senior guard Ashley Ames (36) and just ahead of senior guard Alexa Barkley (23).
“She works nonstop. ‘Lina’ is always the first one in the gym and the last one to leave,” Ames said. “It doesn’t matter if it is winter, summer or fall, she is always in the gym. I asked her to work on her outside shot and I am constantly on her to take more outside shots.”
The combination of Ames and Williams combined to score 56 points in a 69-28 win over Hudson in the first round. Their relationship on the court is seamless.
“I love playing with Ashley. She’s good,” Williams said. “If I drive, I can kick it out to her for
a shot and she motivates me. I think we play really well together.”
“To have two guards that can handle the pressure, and a lot of teams don’t pressure us because they know we have two outstanding guards, is big,” Ames said. “When you have ‘Lina’ able to penetrate the gaps, she can find Ashley on the perimeter or score herself. It opens up everything.”
Williams, who competes on the AAU circuit for coach Julie Mcbride with the Albany Capitals, scored 40 points in a win against Ravena and has reached the 30-point plateau four other times this season. What she values more than anything is achieving team success. Getting to be the starting second baseman on a state championship softball team is something Williams cherishes. She would like to be part of a sectional basketball title.
“I think we have a shot to win it,” Williams said. “We have a lot of seniors, so it would be awesome to go out and win it.”