By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — Girls from around Sullivan County spent several hours last week improving their basketball skills.
Under the guidance of Camp Director Paul Clune and four assistant coaches, a total of 16 girls ages 9 to 16 attended the annual Sullivan Generals Summer Basketball Camp last Monday through Friday at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse on the Sullivan County Community College campus in Loch Sheldrake.
Clune and Assistant Coaches Tim Perry, Brandon Katz, Corey Ramos and Diana Traugot helped the girls improve their dribbling, passing and shooting skills.
Perry is the Head Coach of the SCCC Men’s Basketball team, while Traugot is the Coordinator of Fieldhouse Operations and Equipment at SCCC.
Katz and Ramos are Liberty Central School graduates who now attend SCCC. Both young men are enrolled in SCCC’s Sport Management/Physical Education program and Katz was using his hours of coaching at the camp for a class project.
During the camp, the girls participated in drills and practiced their skills in 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 competitions. They also competed in several contests, including free-throw shooting, a dribble obstacle course and 3-point shooting.
Although the number of campers decreased from last summer, Clune and his fellow coaches turned that into a positive.
“With 16 girls here this week, it provides a better staff-to-camper ratio,” said Clune, who is the Head Coach of the SCCC women’s basketball team. “The five coaches can give the girls more individual help.
“We have had a great week of camp,” Clune added. “This is a great group of girls.”
Perry concurred with Clune.
“These are great kids,” Perry said.
The 16 girls who attended the camp were: Olivia Baum, Allyson Bowers, McKaela Bunce, Elizabeth Cohen, Erin Clune, Lena Episalla, Nicole Episalla, Ashley Exner, Kirsten Jacobsen, Nicolette Perrelli, Diana Presti, Prescilla Presti, Christina Ramirez, Nicole Ramirez, Erin Smith and Sabrena Smith.
The award winners were as follows:
1-on-1: Lena Episalla, Olivia Baum
2-on-2: Christina Ramirez and Prescilla Presti; Nicole Ramirez and Erin Smith
3-and-3: Prescilla Presti, Erin Clune, Lena Episalla and Sabrena Smith; Ally Bowers, Kirsten Jacobsen and Nicole Ramirez
4-on-4: Christina Ramirez, Sabrena Smith, Diana Presti and McKaela Bunce; Nicole Ramirez, Kirsten Jacobsen, Ashley Exner and Coach Perry
musical chairs: Diana Presti, Sabrena Smith and Prescilla Presti; Nicolette Perrelli, Ashley Exner
camp knockout: Sabrena Smith, Nicole Ramirez, Nicole Episalla (two), Olivia Baum
hot shot: Lena Episalla, Ally Bowers
around the world: Christina Ramirez, Ally Bowers
3-point shooting: Elizabeth Cohen, Nicole Episalla
free-throw shooting: week – Elizabeth Cohen, Nicole Episalla; contest – Christina Ramirez, Ally Bowers
horse: Priscilla Presti, McKaela Bunce (runner-up), Ally Bowers
dribble obstacle course: Christina Ramirez, Ally Bowers
Young Age Group: Miss Hustle – Diana Presti, Erin Clune and Prescilla Presti; Most Improved – McKaela Bunce; Coaches’ Award – Sabrena Smith; Most Outstanding – Lena Episalla
Middle Age Group: Miss Hustle – Nicolette Perrelli and Kirsten Jacobsen; Most Improved – Christina Ramirez; Coaches’ Award – Elizabeth Cohen; Most Outstanding – Ashley Exner
Upper Age Group: Miss Hustle – Erin Smith and Olivia Baum; Most Improved – Nicole Ramirez; Coaches’ Award – Nicole Episalla; Most Outstanding – Ally Bowers.