A pair of former Coast high school basketball players gave back and helped support the growth of the game at a successful post-Christmas clinic last Saturday, Jan. 4, at Chatelech Secondary School in Sechelt.
Led by Andrew Baron and Tim Scarr, the grade 7/8 session in the morning featured players from Pender and Chatelech, who were put through their paces with active, enjoyable warm-up drills, and creative skill development drills.
All the drills focused on developing key fundamentals such as ball handling, shooting, court movement, defensive footwork and positioning.
The afternoon session was a team camp for juvenile, junior and senior players from Chatelech.
Advanced fundamentals were the focus, followed by play development and offensive attack plans.
"Every participant raved about the four-hour session and have demanded a follow up," said Chatelech basketball coach and clinic organizer Brian Scarr. "I am most impressed with Andrew and Timothy, as former Coast athletes, and their willingness to give back. The two of them have extensive youth coaching experience already in their young careers and with the participants' positive response to all drills, their hard work and smiles were evidence of the effectiveness of their teaching."
Scarr said the purpose of the clinic was to help get the basketball program at the school back on track, with an eye on a longer-term development plan to bring the basketball level up to what it once was.
"We have firmly set goals to be highly competitive in league play, but accept it will take hard work, and it won't happen overnight, without further coaching development as well as player commitment to excellence," he said. "We are reaching out to Pender at this point to continue to build on the positive relationship we have established through rugby. Looking ahead we hope to develop similar camps soon for girls and boys in elementary and high school. We are starting small, but wish to reach out to the entire Coast youth if possible."
Cougar classic
Elphinstone Secondary School is the place to be this weekend for senior boys' hoops as the Elphi senior boys host their annual Cougar Classic tournament.
Elphi opens the tournament against Argyle this Friday, Jan. 10, at 11:30 a.m. Games continue until 7 p.m.
The first game Saturday is at 9 a.m. with action all day culminating with the final at 7:30 p.m. Off-Coast teams include Argyle, Hugh Boyd, Pemberton, McRoberts, Sullivan Heights, Seycove and Queen Charlotte.
