By Jack Mariano
You would have to say that the 2012 – 2013 basketball season at Octorara will be a re-building year what with Coach Gene Lambert losing four starting players to graduation.
On this day however, the Coach Lambert is thinking about the 2018 season and beyond. That is because today is the second day Octorara Fundamentals Basketball Camp, the Coach’s annual basketball clinic for young hoops stars.
There are about 50 boys and girls attending the 5 day camp ranging from second grade to ninth grade. Gene and his assistant coaches run a full day camp starting at 9 a.m. with stretching exercises, followed by full court drills and then skill stations where the attendees’ work on ball handling, passing, setting screens, rebounding and defending the dribble.
Following a half hour lunch break kids participate in skill competitions, team competitions and afternoon basketball games.
Andrew (age 8) told me that he is having fun but he is a little tired after practice and then he has to go to bible school.
Brandon Maser, age 11, from Christiana says: “I hope to play on the high school basketball team someday” and when asked if he was having fun, Brandon replied with a smile: “yes”.
Julianna, age 11, who is going into sixth grade says that basketball is her favorite sport and that she is having fun. That’s what it is all about.
Jackson Roberts a second grader who was moving towards and shooting at the basket quite nicely particularly impressed me. Jackson is the son of Steve and Meredith Roberts, readers of Parkesburg Today.
Each child pays tuition but no one is turned away if their families cannot afford to pay which is typical of coach Lambert who has devoted his life to the kids of the Octorara area. Coach Lambert is being helped by Jason Ralston, Chris Henley, Kendel Dixon and several others.
With this kind of attendance, the basketball program looks healthy for the foreseeable future.
