Pioneers hold basketball camp

Kids as young as rising first-graders got a three-day taste of Warren County basketball under the watchful eye of high school head coach Ryan Smith.

A total of 75 youngsters from grades 1-8 attended Pioneer Basketball Camp held Wednesday thru Friday at WCHS.

‘We’re emphasizing ballhandling and more of the offensive skills,’ said Smith. ‘Defensively, the main skills are moving your feet and blocking out, and most kids can do that.’

Assistant coach Alan Smith said it makes sense to work with kids at a young age before they develop bad habits that are hard to break.

‘Anytime you can get them to do the right thing first, it always helps,’ said Smith. ‘We don’t want them shooting from the hip and slinging it up there. So we’re working on shooting progressions and shooting with the correct technique.

And the drills we do here are things they can do at home too.’

During one drill, kids laid on their backs and practiced shooting while on the gym floor. On another drill they practiced movement away from the basketball with back-door cuts.

Alan Smith talked about starting a league where kids can play basketball at a younger age. The Jaycee Basketball League here generally doesn’t allow kids to play until they are 8, although some advanced players have been allowed to play at 7.

Alan said he’s seen leagues in other cities for 5-6-year-olds that use shorter goals and smaller courts.

Ryan said he would like to see players who are trying out for the high school team become more fundamentally sound.

He said in recent years Warren County has struggled to produce ‘pure shooters’ at the varsity level. Without the threat of a consistent outside shot, Ryan said it hampers what the team can do offensively.

Members of the high school basketball team helped conduct the basketball camp. The Pioneers will be bolstered by five seniors and Ryan said he is expecting promising things from this year’s squad.