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Niyah Gaston was voted Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week after scoring 31 points in a Lady Bulldogs win over Oscar Smith High School.

The young King’s Fork High School girls’ basketball team has had a very solid season. They are 14-6 through 20 games, which is impressive considering many were unsure what the Lady Bulldogs were capable of.

Gaston, a freshman, has been having a solid season for the Lady Bulldogs, with one of her best efforts coming in a 31-point outing in a blowout win over Oscar Smith. She also had seven rebounds and five steals.

“I was on fire that night,” Gaston said. “Everything was falling for me, and my teammates knew I was hot and got me the ball, keeping me going. I couldn’t have done it without them and my coaches.”

Gaston felt like the performance added confidence to her game. As a freshman, she has found a way to get more and more comfortable each game, as her upperclassmen teammates lift her up with positive motivation. The KFHS freshman feels good about how the season has gone.

“I feel great about what we are doing,” Gaston said. “We are continuing to learn each other, and we can only continue to get better with consistency. For a younger team, we are doing great.”

As Gaston came into this season, she wasn’t sure what to expect; she just knew she wanted to come in and find a way to contribute right away. Her goal going forward for this season and for as long as she is a Lady Bulldog is to do whatever she can to be a team player. What motivates Gaston on the court is her teammates. When she sees them playing well, it makes her want to do the same. She is inspired by her coaches and teammates, as well as former Old Dominion University standout Jennie Simms.

“The energy on the court is contagious,” Gaston said. “I just want to make my coach, teammates and parents proud.”

The King’s Fork girls’ basketball team has been one of the best in the state for the last few seasons. Many standout players have come through and have gone on to and are currently doing good things at the next level. Gaston is aware of the success and standard for the Lady Bulldogs, and as a young player growing up under many of the players that came through the school, she sees it as an honor to be a part of it now.

“I grew up playing with a lot of the girls in the program,” she said. “I was a baby, and those girls took me under their wing and showed me how to play. Coach Fofana has always been around and encouraged me throughout the years. I always knew I wanted to play for him and build a legacy.”