August 2, 2021 at 8:11 a.m.
Hodag Hoops camp returns after one-year hiatus
Hodag Hoops camp returns after one-year hiatus
Lemmens and the Hodag basketball program hosted the annual Hodag Hoops youth camp last Monday through Thursday at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium, which had roughly 100 participants ranging from students entering kindergarten to Grade 8.
Last year's camp was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lemmens said he was excited to make up for lost time.
"It killed last year not being able to do this," he said. "This is one of the most enjoyable things of the summer, getting all of us together, working on skills and just seeing what's coming up is really important and enjoyable, so to be back at it is really exciting."
Not only is it important for the program - the camp was staffed by the RHS basketball staff plus a few other volunteers - it was important for the campers, who saw their growth in the sport stunted due to last year's limited opportunities.
"Even if a player decides to take it upon themselves to work on their game, a lot of times they don't know how to work on their game," Lemmens said. "And finding facilities, especially in northern Wisconsin, to work on your game is challenging. You see the delay in not only their growth in skill, but also their understanding of the game because a lot of these kids didn't to play. You lose those opportunities to grow at a really important time."
Lemmens said roughly 110 participants signed up, though the camp lost some participation due to the state tournament run made by the Rhinelander Little League 12U All-Star team and a few other obligations. While the majority of players were from Rhinelander, Lemmens said, Three Lakes and Port Edwards were well-represented, and that the camp once again attracted a couple of players from outside the state who were in the area vacationing.
"We've got one from Texas, one from Connecticut, one from San Francisco," he said. "You get some families that vacation here and they send their kids. A couple of these kids from out of town have been here a couple years we're starting to develop a relationship with them and it's neat to watch them grow and you wish they were Hodags."
New this year, Lemmens extended the camp to those entering kindergarten through Grade 3. For them, the camp was essentially an extension of the Rhinelander Basketball Association's Little Dribblers program.
"It's a lot of introductory skills and just getting kids in the gym, playing basketball, hopefully enjoying it enough where they want to grow on that," Lemmens said.
The camp was broken in to separate sessions for players entering Grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-8. It mixed drills and fundamentals with competition in 3-on-3, 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 formats.
"We want kids to get some good foundational skills and find ways to play and to practice," Lemmens said. "Then we want kids to have fun. When the leave camp, I want them wanting more. I want them to enjoy the experience so they want to continue to pursue basketball opportunities."
Offseason struggles
Lemmens was candid when talking about the challenges that his squad have faced this summer. Between graduating a large crop of seniors and a condensed contact window due to the extended spring sports season, Lemmens said offseason participation has not been as strong as he would like.
"We haven't had great turnouts in the weight room or the gym," he said. "We've had a core group, but it's been a core group of our younger guys - sophomores and a junior - that have really been working hard."
Rhinelander went 14-6 last year and was the runner up in the Great Northern Conference at 10-2. Three of those losses coming to GNC-champion Medford - including a loss in the WIAA Division 2 regional finals. But the Hodags graduated seven seniors from that team - including four starters and two others who saw significant rotational minutes. Guard Jacksen Smith is the only starter slated to return.
"I feel like this summer we've fallen further behind where our competition is - when you look at (Northland) Pines, Medford and Mosinee," Lemmens said. "I thought they started the summer probably ahead of us and I think they gained in how far ahead of us they are. I know for a fact Pines and Medford are in the weight room and working hard and we weren't. We're going to have a lot of ground we need to close. Hopefully, in the season, guys come hungry, they make some gains in the weight room in the fall and I think, right now, we're probably No. 5 in the conference."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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