The 10th consecutive “Be Your Best” basketball camp was hosted by the Eureka Lady Tornado basketball team with former head coach Shelly Hoyt leading the way. The camp was held Monday-Thursday, June 1-4 at the Tornado Activity Center at Eureka Junior/Senior High School (EJSHS).
There were three age groups, grades Kindergarten through second; grades three through five and grades six through eight.
The camp for kindergarten through second grade was catered to girls and boys just getting started in the game of basketball. Campers were divided into groups by skill level and taught at a pace that was most beneficial for each athlete. Fundamentals such as shooting (at lowered goals), passing, dribbling, and the rules of the game were taught to each athlete.
The camp for third through fifth graders was catered to both the beginners and the advanced athletes. Girls and boys were divided into groups based on skill level and were taught at a pace that was most beneficial for each athlete. Campers were drilled in the fundamentals of the game, both offense and defense. They also had the chance to compete in a team setting that included 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 and fast break competition.
Campers in grades six through ninth received instruction on fundamentals – advanced shooting, passing, dribbling as well as other offensive skills and defensive skills. Along with working on individual skills, athletes competed in a variety of events including 1-on-1, 5-on-5, 3-on-3 and fast break competitions.
Assisting Hoyt at the Be Your Best basketball camp were Brendan Ptacek, incoming high school girls basketball head coach; Cady Ptacek, incoming EHS assistant girls basketball coach; Jackson Oldham, head EHS boys basketball coach; Tori Melton, head EJSHS girls basketball coach; and past and present members of the Tornadoes basketball teams.
Each day of the camp, participants were named to the “Ring Team.” Participants were selected for demonstrating the following characteristics: hardworking, adaptability, character, positive, motivated, no excuses, extra effort, values team, failure into feedback, coachable and control factor awareness.
Those being named to the K-2 Ring Team included: Emmylou Hayes, Nora Whittaker, Cooper Hamilton, Kipton Ramsey, Brianne Bechtel, Rhett Shamblin, Meredith Samuels, Buster Bogle, Rook Samuels and Lawson Barnard.
Those being named to the 3-5 Ring Team included: Ella Burke, Jethro Moralina, Brady Larkin, Baylor Urban, Aliyah Zeckser, Amelia Shepherd, Pate Schankie, Mazzy Koop, Lilliana Sanchez, Sawyer Ptacek, Whit Hamilton and Brayton Barnard.
Those being named to the 6-9 Ring Team included: Alivia Hare, Haidyn Evenson, Colt Williams, Raegan Ashlock, Easton Zeckser, Molly Dehlinger, Braxtyn Evenson, Charlie Lindamood, Raylon Smith, Mia Ptacek, Henry Lindamood and Mayley Decker.
K-2 Division Front row: L. Barnard, M. Samuels, Rook Samuels, Hayes, Lexi Rojas, Koah Adams, Coach Hoyt; middle row: Amos Schankie, Hope Perrier, B. Bechtel, Jace Decker, Bogle, Kipton Ramsey, Shamblin, Trayce Wells, Carter Garcia, C. Hamilton, N. Whittaker; and back row: Arabella Shepherd, Sydney Lindamood, Hannah Perrier, Elliana Coulter, Britta Mongeau, Laynie Winfrey, McKenna McDonald, Annie Bogle, Amorette Guilliame and Tyson Coon.
3-5 Division Front row: Allie Knowles, A. Zeckser, Dawsyn Evenson, Brielle Sanchez, Adelae Coulter, Bash Foth, Ollie Rockhill, B. Urban; second row: Jordy Rockhill, Ridge Samuels, L. Sanchez, Pate Schankie, Emmett Metzen, Tyrel Wells, Kasari Ptacek, Camden Ptacek, Jameson Bailey, W. Hamilton, Kaydenn Winn; third row: Tyler Wells, Moralina, B. Barnard, Larkin, S. Ptacek, Shepherd, Charlie Conard, Mazzy Koop, Cooper Cox, Ella Burke, Velana Rojas; back row: Laynie Winfrey, Arabella Shepherd, S. Lindamood, Hannah Perrier, Mongeau, Kinsley Cox, Reagan Ashlock, Coulter, McDonald, Annie Bogle, Milly Koop, A. Guilliame and Brody Mitchell.
6-9 Division Front row: Duke Coulter, E. Zeckser, C. Lindamood, C. Williams, Tanner Wade, Ava McDonald, Brynslee Valentine, H. Evenson, Hutson Marshall; middle row: S. Lindamood, Arabella Shepherd, Decker, M. Dehlinger, Kaylee Palmer, B. Evenson, R. Ashlock, Brynlee Ashlock, Maggie Mitchell, Ike Whitehead, Kennedie VanPool, Mongeau, Coulter; back row: Winfrey, Hannah Perrier, Hank Dehlinger, Brentley Decker, M. Ptacek, Hare, R. Smith, Kinsley Cox, H. Lindamood, Bristle Osborne, Brody Rockhill.
(Courtesy photos)
