Belgreen hosts basketball camp

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Belgreen head girl’s basketball coach Richie Hester talks to the older group of campers Monday afternoon at the Belgreen High School gym. The camp had 30 or more participants between kindergarten age to 11th graders.

BELGREEN — Belgreen High School hosted a three-day basketball camp this week for young girls between kindergarten and 11th grades.

The campers worked on fundamentals, having a winning attitude, good sportsmanship and had team and individual competitions.

The event was divided based on age, with girls aged kindergarten through sixth in the first group and girls in seventh through 11th grade in the second group.

“This is the sixth year I’ve done a basketball camp,” Belgreen head girl’s basketball coach Richie Hester said. “I emphasize letting the kids enjoy playing the sport to help keep them from getting burnt out.”

Around 30 girls total across two age groups participated in the camp at the Belgreen High School gym.

“We had a great camp this morning,” Hester said. “The little kids had a lot of enthusiasm. It shows a lot of drive to be here in July.”

Wes Richardson, an athletic trainer from the North Alabama Bone and Joint, was on hand Monday to talk to the older group of girls. He spoke to them on the differences between being hurt and a true injury and also how to stay fit and healthy during basketball season.

“There is no pressure on the girls right now,” Hester said. “This is the time to have fun and work on things you don’t always get a chance to. We will work on fundamentals like rebounding, passing, shooting and ball-handling.”

The camp will be concluded today, with several competitions set for the final day’s activity list.

“We will have hot shot, one on one, three on three, ball-handling and free throw competitions,” Hester said.