IMLAY CITY GIRLS’ YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMP

A young girl dribbles a basketball under the guidance of Imlay City girls’ varsity basketball coach Bob Bova Tuesday morning at the annual Youth Skills Camp.

Thirty-five girls in grades one-eight turned out for the three-day Imlay City Youth Basketball Skills Camp Tuesday-Thursday at the high school.

The lucky campers were instructed by varsity girls’ basketball coach Bob Bova and his entire coaching staff, Kevin Pilarski, Katie Dye and Mark Weigle along with Middle School Coach Kristyn Kurka.

Bova said the camp focused on age-appropriate skills and how to use them properly.

“We are teaching age-appropriate fundamental skills along with introducing game concepts in order to increase players confidence, understanding and ultimately, passion for the game of basketball,” Bova said. “Our Team Slogan/ Motto is “212 degrees – be the S-Team” which encourages players to give great effort, never quit and be great teammates. We want the campers, and our players, to have a great experience and have fun while working to improve their games.”

Bova had plenty of help at the camp with what he called “an outstanding turnout of volunteer camp counselors”. They included: freshmen Addison Brown, Adalyn Seigler, Macie Stine, Isabella O’Malley and Yariela Galeana; sophomores Leelynn Craven, Mia-Ann Grapentin, Roslyn Bruman and Gabbey Duncan; juniors Ava Nadrowski, Savannah Douglas, Mackenzie and Alexis Bruyere; and seniors Hannah Carney, Lilley Duncan and Adrianna Vlahos.

One of the many campers in attendance at Tuesday’s opening day of the annual Imlay City girls’ basketball Youth Skills camp gives it her all as she heaves the ball up and toward the basket.

Bova also had some headliners to lead by example.

“We were honored to have special guest coaches Amy Forti and Imlay City alum Mary Lengemann at camp to support out Program,” added Bova. “It is fun, exciting and rewarding to be able to work with these young players and a great opportunity for our current players to give back to the program. It wasn’t so long ago that they were the campers looking up to the high school players.”

The annual camp is part of a bigger goal for Bova and Imlay City High School.

“We are dedicated to building the excitement and passion for Imlay City Girls Basketball and this camp is vital to that mission,” Bova stressed. “We are also having a golf outing on August 10 at Castle Creek to support Imlay City Boys and Girls Basketball, along with the Imlay City Volleyball program. Also, our 3-on-3 Basketball tournament on August 16. We are hoping for a great turnout.”

A camper at the Imlay City girls’ Youth Skills Camp works on dribbling and shooting on the opening day of camp on Tuesday. Photos by Erin Wetzel

— Lisa Paine

Two of the 35 campers in attendance at Imlay City’s girls’ basketball Youth Skills camp work on their age-appropriate skills, putting them to the test against each other in Tuesday morning’s first day of camp.

Imlay City varsity girls’ basketball coach Bob Bova instructs two of the young girls on how to shoot from the floor at Tuesday’s opening day of Youth Skills Camp at the high school.