BOYS' BASKETBALL CAMP CONTINURE SUCCESS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

A number of athletes were back in the Powell High School gymnasium for a successful Trapper and Panther Boys' Basketball Camp, as a key week of development led to significant growth from athletes as young as fourth grade through incoming varsity starters.

"This is a big week for our development, top to bottom. All the way from the younger kids to my high school seniors," coach Mike Heny said. "Being able to work with coach (Andy) Ward and some of the things that he's bringing to their development is critical too. I appreciate all those kids that can make time and be here, it's kind of a nice way to end June and then head off into the rest of the summer."

Heny said the boys' camp alongside the skills camp run throughout the summer are important pieces that help give kids the necessary skills to improve week in and week out.

"We're trying to give them the things that they can work on on their own, the habits that they need to try to develop when there's not a specific time where we're getting together as a program," Heny said. "All of the ball handling, all of the little things that we try to incorporate is to help them learn how to develop themselves individually — that's why it's so important to have as many kids in here as we can this week."

Throughout the week Heny and Ward were joined by a number of faces familiar with Powell basketball, including Panther assistant coach Waleryan Wisniewski, Northwest athletic director Brian Erickson as well as former Panther, now Trapper players Gunnar Erickson and Alex Jordan.

"It's nice to have them come back and contribute helping those young kids," Heny said. "They (the kids) can see what it takes to actually get to that next level for those that have that goal. Gunnar and AJ have been such a big part of our success these past four years, five when you count Gunnar, it's really nice to have them back in the gym. Gives us a chance to hang out with them again. Them working with those high school kids and even the younger kids that look up to them, you can see that connection between us and the college and the community as a whole."

While also helping the players improve their physical skills, the camp helped the Panther youth focus on the mental aspect of the game, bringing important lessons to take with them into the future and ensure they are well-rounded in both areas.

"Coach Ward always has the word of the day, things to think about to make them not only a better basketball player, but a better teammate, better athlete and better person," Heny said. "So we really want to talk to them about what it takes to be good at lots of different things, not just basketball. Because if you're a good teammate, you can usually find a role somewhere on some team. You may not always be the best scorer, but if you can defend, you can find a role. It's the whole package while they're in here, and then those little things that it takes to be that complete athlete as they get older."

Heny hopes to continue growing the camp and bringing in more athletes each year to expand the sport of basketball throughout the basin.