Basketball camp brings summer fun

The Thompson Falls High School gym came alive last week with the sounds of basketballs as groups of kids from kindergarten to eighth grade came together for four fun-filled days of learning the fundamentals of basketball. In the morning sixth through eighth graders started the day, followed by fifth through third, and the last group was second through kindergarten. At the end of the four days, awards are given to the hot shot champs, free throw champs, and the 3-on-3 champs.

"We really try to work on the fundamentals while still making it an enjoyable experience for the kids." explained Jake Mickelson, the TFHS boys basketball head coach, who organized the camp.

Each day started with some light drills for warm up before getting into the hot shot competition, which is a shooting drill where a minute is on the clock and the shooter must shoot around obstacles. Each child had a chance to make it to the top four, then the top two had a final challenge for the prize of a sports drink. In the free throw competition, participants worked to make more free throws than their classmates to earn the top prize.

"I really loved hot shots, I think it was my favorite part," said Blakely Thomas, a second year camp goer. Anna Czerwinski, also a second time camp goer, said her favorite part was the free throw competition.

Co-coach Lisa Mickelson said her favorite part of the camp is watching the kids' excitement and their quick improvement of the game.

For third grade boys the hot shot and free throw champ was Conrad Susic, for the girls the hot shot champ was Addy Havens, and the free throw champ was Eleanor Traver. For the fourth and fifth grade boys, the hot shot champ was Louis Hannum while Mason Mickelson came out the free throw champion. As for the fourth and fifth grade girls Cooper Lilly was the hot shot champ, while Elena Whittenburg was the free throw champ. Alex Farrar took the hot shot championship for the sixth through eighth grade boys, while Tristan Kelly won the free throw competition. Audrey Fairbank earned the win for both hot shot and free throw for the sixth through eighth grade girls.

"This was one of our biggest years yet, with almost 100 kids throughout the groups," said Jake Mickelson.

The camp ended with each participant getting a special t-shirt and a group photo.