Pictured above are the 2nd-4th graders who attended the first session of the 2924 North Adams Boys Basketball Camp. (Photo provided)

Pictured above are the 2nd-4th graders who attended the first session of the 2924 North Adams Boys Basketball Camp. (Photo provided)

<p>Above are the 5th and 6th graders who attended the second session of last week’s North Adams Boys Basketball Camp. (Photo provided)</p>

Above are the 5th and 6th graders who attended the second session of last week’s North Adams Boys Basketball Camp. (Photo provided)

By Mark Carpenter

People’s Defender

Since taking over as the new boys varsity basketball coach at North Adams High School, Austin McCormick has been a busy man. He and his varsity squad have been active all summer, traveling across southeast Ohio for shootouts and scrimmages, preparing to defend their back-to-back Division III district championships. For four days last week, McCormick turned his attention to the future of the Green Devils’ program, hosting four days of youth basketball camp for boys in grades 2-6 for the coming school year.

The camp was divided into two sessions each day, the first being for 2nd-4th graders and the second being for 5th and 6th graders. Emphasis was put on the basic fundamentals of the game, with some fun competitive games mixed in.

The 2nd-4th grades who attended the camp’s first session included: Corbin Crump, Phoenix Bolender, Rhett Durr, Cason Meece, Malachai Semple, Landry Hayslip, Hunter Powell, MJ Fannin, Zane Schwallie, Beckham Copas, Boston Edingfield, Brooks Wooten, Canaan Harper, Axel Payne, Mason Fleshman, Jagger Osborne, Brantley Johnson, Isaac Spiller, Jaxon Shively and Dax Burns.

the 5th-6th graders in the second session included: Corbin Young, Kaden Dotson, Braxton McKenzie, Liam Wilmoth, Kanon Craft, Braylen Shively, Rylan Souder, Brantlee Bolton, Rayce Young, Brody Bell, Branson Geeslin, Ryker Manning, Kade Cornette, Levi Lahmers, Raylan Davis and Beckett Garrison.

In the camp competitions, the winners in 2nd-4th grades were:

• Jagger Osborne- Free Throws
• Dax Burns- King of the Court
• Isaac Spiller- Dribble Knockout
• Phoenix Bolender- Shooting Knockout
• Brooks Wooten- Hot Shot
• Malachai Semple- Hard Work Camper
n the camp competitions, the winners in 5th-6th grades were:
• Levi Lahmers- Free Throws
• Ryker Manning- King of the Court
• Brantlee Bolton- Dribble Knockout
• Rylan Souder- Hot Shot
• Raylan Davis- hard Work Camper
No youth camp is successful without the assistance of the high school players, many of whom are the hardwood heroes to the younger generation. Last week’s camp featured the following high school Green Devils: Jayce Rothwell, Breestin Schweickart, Connor Young, Carson Osborne, Caleb DeAtley, Konnor Rogers, Colin Tolle, Preston Call, Dalton Pence, Beau Hesler, Caleb Brown, Jackson Harper, Thaddeus Moore, Carson Davis, Jaxon Baldwin and Jacob Wheeler.