Visiting basketball teams go up against Belizean youths at Bird’s Isle
Two visiting teams from the Oaks Hills High School from Indiana have taken over Birds Isle for the next few days where the buzz is all about basketball. The teams are partnering with the Belize Basketball Federation and CSI Ministries in a summer programme to teach basketball skills to youths. On the first day of the camp, the visiting team has learnt that the local youths are fast and furious. Freelance Reporter Duane Moody reports.
Jace Martin, Oak Hills High School Varsity Team
“We had different stations around the Court; stuff like shooting, dribbling, defense, rebounding—the basic skills of basketball. We don’t claim to be experts by any stretch of the imagination. But we know a little bit and we hope to teach them that.”
Duane Moody, Reporting
Oak Hills High School Junior Varsity and Varsity basketball teams from Indiana intend to equip City youths with the fundamental skills of basketball during their one week visit to Belize. The teams will also be playing and conducting basketball camps in other venues around the country. Their first stop is in Belize City and Head Coach, Kevin Renbarger, says that the training for his team is new.
Kevin Renbarger
Kevin Renbarger, Coach, Oak Hill Basketball Team
“This is something that is completely unfamiliar to them; the climate, everything about the country of Belize is something that is very new to them. It definitely challenges their comfort level in almost every aspect and it’s really good for our kids to see how basketball is played in other countries. How athletic the kids from Belize are. We really hope that they are taking home the work ethic that we are trying to show them as well. They are very enthusiastic and they are asking a lot of questions and see, to want to play. And that is a good start. Anytime that you can do that in terms of enthusiasm, you can teach all the other stuff and so they have a lot of intangibles to have a good basketball program here.”
Coach Bernie Tarr, Basketball Technical Officer, National Sports Council
“We are really just basically covering fundamentals and the play that we get into is three on three. And we know what’s going on right now with the federation playing three by three. So that’s really starting to become a big part of the game.”
Marlon Andrewin
For both Belizean and American players, the experience has taught them sportsmanship, discipline and that players have strengths and weaknesses.
Marlon Andrewin, Member, National Basketball Team
“All the training they are giving me is strengthening my game. It makes you learn more about basketball, the fundamentals, everything.”
Joel Garverick
Duane Moody
“Have you found it challenging playing here?”
Joel Garverick, Oak Hills High School
“A little bit. It’s different from what I’m used to. It’s just a good way for me to challenge my comfort zone really experience the whole trip.”
Jace Martin
Jace Martin
“Participation has been better than what I thought it would be. All the kids are at the clinic; they are really willing to learn and they listen really well. It has been a pleasant experience so far.”
Duane Moody
“Going up against the team from Belize; what do you find is their strength or their weakness so to speak?”
Jace Martin
“They are just incredibly athletic. I’ve seen that just from working with them at the clinic. They jump out to the gym, they’re quick, they’re fast. As Americans, a lot of times we’re not that way.”
Basketball Technical Officer, National Sports Council, Coach Bernie Tarr, says that the event runs simultaneously with a City Council basketball camp for youths.
Bernie Tarr
Coach Bernie Tarr
“We ran a little camp with the Belize City Council Basketball Camp that has been going on last week and this week and actually for the next couple of weeks. So we are doing a camp this morning here with the young kids while we are going through a practice right here. So actually we have some of the players who went to the King James tournament taking place with the practice also. It really creates an opportunity here. We have four players that will go finish their education in the states. And this is giving; the young guys are here watching the drills right here watching to see how the high school practice in the states and how we go from drill to drill to drill.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
Tonight at the Bird’s Isle, Belize’s National High School Champ, Sadie Vernon High School, and the King James Team will play against the Varsity team from Oak Hills High School. On Wednesday, the missionary group moves to Cayo then Belmopan.
