The North Country hoops scene has been quite active this summer. This week, Beekmantown central school has added another basketball camp to the extensive list with the return of the “Future All-Stars” camp. It’s a chance for a younger group of hoopers between the grades of kindergarten and sixth grade a chance to work on the fundamentals now to prepare them for the Modified and high school levels of play. “I’m most excited about doing drills, working on my form,” said Grace Terry, a camper from Plattsburgh. “Fixing a lot of the things I’ve been trying to fix doing basketball.” Emma Girard, Beekmantown girls’ varsity basketball head coach, wanted to bring the tradition back to the town after a five-year hiatus due to COVID-19. She emphasizes the importance of providing many kids across Clinton County the chance to practice, just as much as her own players from Beekmantown. “We love to get as many young girls as we can in the gym,” Girard said. “That’s our goal is to start them young and to get them to a point where we can elevate the whole basketball program to another level, to a point where our region can consistently win New York state championships.” There is a plethora of counselors with diverse experiences. The list even includes three overseas players, featuring former SUNY Canton Guard Taylor Saultus from Ausable, former Saint Anselm forward Shannon Ryan from Beekmantown and former Bryant forward Brooke Bjelko from Beekmantown. They all are looking to try creating a stronger love for basketball in their local community by volunteering their time at camp this week. “I’m hearing from a lot of people that basketball isn’t as big as sports like soccer out here,” Bjelko said. “I’m really excited to get these girls back into basketball and get that passion into basketball back into the North Country.” The camp will continue at Beekmantown until this Friday, Aug. 11
The North Country hoops scene has been quite active this summer.
This week, Beekmantown central school has added another basketball camp to the extensive list with the return of the “Future All-Stars” camp. It’s a chance for a younger group of hoopers between the grades of kindergarten and sixth grade a chance to work on the fundamentals now to prepare them for the Modified and high school levels of play.
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“I’m most excited about doing drills, working on my form,” said Grace Terry, a camper from Plattsburgh. “Fixing a lot of the things I’ve been trying to fix doing basketball.”
Emma Girard, Beekmantown girls’ varsity basketball head coach, wanted to bring the tradition back to the town after a five-year hiatus due to COVID-19. She emphasizes the importance of providing many kids across Clinton County the chance to practice, just as much as her own players from Beekmantown.
“We love to get as many young girls as we can in the gym,” Girard said. “That’s our goal is to start them young and to get them to a point where we can elevate the whole basketball program to another level, to a point where our region can consistently win New York state championships.”
There is a plethora of counselors with diverse experiences. The list even includes three overseas players, featuring former SUNY Canton Guard Taylor Saultus from Ausable, former Saint Anselm forward Shannon Ryan from Beekmantown and former Bryant forward Brooke Bjelko from Beekmantown. They all are looking to try creating a stronger love for basketball in their local community by volunteering their time at camp this week.
“I’m hearing from a lot of people that basketball isn’t as big as sports like soccer out here,” Bjelko said. “I’m really excited to get these girls back into basketball and get that passion into basketball back into the North Country.”
The camp will continue at Beekmantown until this Friday, Aug. 11
