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Greencastle boys’ basketball works in skills, competition, fun during youth camp week
In a week with smoke filling the air from wildfires to the north, McAnally Center made unavailable due to the ongoing construction pervading Greencastle schools and storms washing out practices during the day on Thursday, getting a skills camp in would have been difficult in most circumstances.
Good thing the Tiger Cub Skills Basketball Camp was inside from Monday to Thursday at Greencastle Middle School.
Despite challenges outside of the control of those directing the camp, more than 80 boys from grades 1-8 attended the four-day camp held from June 26-29 with two sessions each day, one for players in grades 1-4 and a second for players in grades 5-8.
Thursday also provided a chance for campers and parents to see a dunk performance from Boomer, the mascot of the Indiana Pacers, to finish out the week.
“It’s been a really good turnout,” Greencastle boys’ basketball head coach Bryce Rector said. “The kids have had a lot of fun and it’s good to get the kids in the gym in June.
“It was great timing as a lot of kids don’t want to be outside because of the weather, so it worked out well. It’s been a little tighter in the middle school than in McAnally but the kids have been fantastic.
“There’s a bit of excitement in holding camp in McAnally, to be able to play on the same floor that the high school kids play on Friday and Saturday night,” Rector added about the camp relocation. “It’s part of the process going on at the school right now but we’re being flexible because we know a lot of great things are going to come from it.”
Run by the Greencastle High School boys’ basketball staff, along with high school players, each day of the camp gave participants the chance to work on several different skills before applying those skills in competitive settings, including half and full-court scrimmages or in skill competitions held throughout each practice.
“A lot of our camps are skill-based,” Rector said. “We focus on trying to develop some skill sets at this time of year and the kids enjoy that.
“We also want to make things fun and competitive as well. That’s equally as important. The camps should be fun but also be competitive as well.”
Among the challenge winners included Gavin Tyson and Paxton Beasley in the speed dribble challenge, Eli Combs and Nash Dobbs in the hot shot competition and Gage Velazquez and Rowen Tyson in the knockout competition. All winners received camp prizes for their efforts.
“All of the kids love to come in here and get better,” Rector said. “A lot of them enjoy the competitiveness that the camp provides.”
Aside from the high school coaching staff, members of the Tiger Cub varsity basketball squad were in attendance each day, offering their help to campers while also helping in the challenges each day, a level of involvement Rector said was vital to the camp.
“The high school kids are great,” Rector noted. “I remember when I was in elementary and middle school, looking up to the high school kids, and these kids do the same thing and experience the same thing.
“These high school kids are more important to these young kids than what they watch on TV or the NBA. To be able to come here and provide a mentorship that is a really cool experience that these younger kids don’t forget.
“It also makes them excited about Greencastle basketball in the future,” Rector added.
Participants each received a T-shirt and were able to attend the camp for free thanks in part to a contribution from Greencastle Wal-Mart.
“We’re super thankful that Wal-Mart of Greencastle provided a donation that allowed every single one of these campers to come here for free the whole week,” Rector pointed out. “All of the stuff we’re being able to do is thanks to Wal-Mart and we’re thankful for their partnership with us.
“This provided an opportunity for some families and some kids who might not otherwise have been able to attend, so we’re really thankful for that.”