Girls Basketball Camp Sets the Scene for Winter Season

The annual youth girls basketball camp was held on June 16-18 by varsity head coach Katie Roose and the high school athletes. This camp hosts grades first through eighth and teaches them the fundamental skills of basketball.

The camp consists of two sessions. It begins with a morning session with grades first through fourth and the afternoon session is grades fifth through eighth. This year, there were a combined 36 campers and the current high school players serve as the counselors for the three day camp. With the younger group, there is a focus on offensive skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting. However, with the older group, they spend one day on offensive skills, another day on defensive skills, and then the final day is used as a combination of both skill sets. 

Both of the groups participate in individual skill competitions like free throw shooting, Mikan drill and a hot shot competition. The older group also hosts team competitions on the final day of camp which provides game-like scenarios. But what are the pros of hosting this camp? Roose shares “The youth camp allows me a chance to get three days working with future Lady Bulldog basketball players.” 

She also shared that in the fall before their recreation season begins, she hosts a one hour youth clinic, which is helpful, but the summer camp allows her to work in depth with the girls. She also claims that it allows the high school players to develop relationships with the younger girls. Roose will be going on her thirteenth year as head coach and has hosted the camp each summer. But the youth camp is only a small portion of summer basketball action for her. 

This winter the varsity team will be returning the core of their starting lineup with the exception of recent graduate Jenna Brumbaugh. Roose is excited that Michaela Firks, a transfer from last year, will have the opportunity to play the entire season. She shares that she is enjoying watching the junior varsity players set themselves up for possible varsity playing time this season and that they will be competing for a league title this upcoming season.  This summer camp not only allows the youth to get their hands back on basketball, but also the varsity team as well. The team has been competing in Troy’s summer league on Monday nights in June. They play two games every Monday and have scrimmaged competitive teams like Coldwater and Fort Loramie, which Roose says have been “good competitive scrimmages for our team.” 

Alongside the youth camp and summer league, the team has hosted practices and open gyms this summer. This extra time before the season officially starts in October is key for their success.