The Newburgh Zion Lions Elite 16U and 17U girls’ basketball teams made their official debut at the It’s In The Water Classic on Friday, July 25, at Beacon High School. The annual event, organized by NBA player Elijah Hughes, showcases basketball talent from Newburgh, Beacon, and Poughkeepsie — and for the first time this year, featured a girls’ game.

The Zion Lions program, founded more than 30 years ago by Coach Harold Rayford Sr., is a nonprofit dedicated to youth development through basketball. Based in Newburgh, the organization provides a safe and competitive environment for young athletes, hosting leagues and tournaments throughout the region.
The girls’ teams, reestablished in 2023 and now designated as “Elite,” wrapped up strong seasons. The 16U team finished 24-5, while the 17U squad went 16-6 under head coach Ali Muhammad, a Zion Lions alumnus. The Elite status signified expanded competition, including travel tournaments and high-level opponents, similar to the organization’s boys’ teams.

Leading the way were team captains Terri’nashjaè “TT” Burden of Newburgh Free Academy, Tessa Furst of Cornwall, and Abigail Richardson of James I. O’Neill High School. Burden led both teams in scoring, assists, steals and shooting percentage. Furst emerged as a rebounding force and defensive presence, while Richardson served as an on-court extension of the coaching staff.

The Friday showcase featured Burden, Furst, Ana Sonko of Cornwall, and Jasmine Triunfo of Arlington. Burden, Furst, and Triunfo played on the Black team, while Sonko suited up for the White team. The Black team secured a 71-40 win.

Burden was named Most Valuable Player and said she enjoyed the experience despite some early nerves.

“It wasn’t too crazy, but at first it was because I never played with some of those girls before,” she said. “Then

I got comfortable.”

Furst echoed the excitement.

“Right from the start, when we were warming up, I could tell the girls had really nice energy,” she said.

“Everyone was really supportive, and I knew regardless of whether we won or lost, I still would have had a lot of fun.”

Triunfo said she was confident in her shooting and appreciated the opportunity to bond with new teammates.

“Some of us had already played together, so we knew each other’s games, and it was a good experience to play with others,” she said.

Sonko, who played on the opposing team, contributed defensively and said she enjoyed the competitive atmosphere.

“It was nice seeing my teammates fired up,” she said. “We had good energy, and we kept going and fighting.”

All four players said they hope the event helps bring more girls into the program and opens the door to additional tournaments and development opportunities.

Tryouts for the 2026 Newburgh Zion Lions Elite 16U and 17U teams are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15. Free weekend workouts are available for returning players and interested newcomers. For more information, contact Coach Muhammad at 845-728-8746.