2018 Little M-ette Camp

Almost forty campers attended the 2018 Little M-ette Basketball Camp held at the Malta High School Gymnasium on Monday, June 25 through Wednesday, June 27.

The yearly camp, held for youth third grade through eighth grade, taught young basketball players anything from fundamentals to skills that will help them in the sport.

"It's the most important thing to start them when they are young," M-ette Assistant Coach Shane Anderson told the PCN. "You have to get them to learn the fundamentals. We have a range from third graders to eighth graders, so we are running this camp as if everybody is on the same page, going over a lot of fundamentals and working on the basic skills of basketball."

The coaches are aware of the differences in the age group, so the groups are often broken up to challenge the older kids.

"There are drills and activities for the older kids to help them improve but it's mainly a lot of fundamental things that we are doing," Coach Anderson said. "That's the important thing for kids at this age."

M-ette senior Janessa Malmend was one of several M-ettes helping out at the camp.

Though she has been a camp leader for the Little M-ette Volleyball camp in previous years, this is the first Little M-ette Basketball Camp that she has attended as a high school student.

"It's really fun actually," Malmend said. "It's nice to know that you are helping the younger kids that are going to come up and be one of us."

She admitted that finding balance amongst the various ages could be hard, but she loves the teaching role that she plays.

"Sometimes it can get a little complicated when the younger kids are paired with the older kids but we try to be good about teaching the younger kids more of the basic stuff," Malmend said. "It's pretty fun, I wish I could do more of this next year."

Also present at the camp was Raina Mortenson, Kloie Marks, Kelbee Denham, Erica Smith, and Head Coach Nate Hammond.

Cousins Tova and Ellie Anderson, are a pair of Malta Middle School seventh graders that enjoyed the camp.

"I like when we do the free throw, hot-shot, and one-on-one competitions," Tova said.

They must be related because Ellie's favorite events matched her cousin's.

"The same things she said," Ellie said.

Ellie was asked what she was working on at camp.

"We work on defense mostly," Ellie said. "That's what I mostly do."

Tova and Ellie were working on free throws at the moment of their interview, which brought the question of how many they would each make out of ten.

"Ten," Ellie replied.

Then Ellie was asked how many she had made in the drill a day prior.

"One," she said, bursting in laughter.

Tova then admitted that she only hit one as well.

"I got one also," Tova said, also laughing.

Malta Elementary fifth-grader Hailey Welch shared her favorite thing about the camp week.

"Being with my friends and participating in all of the great activities," Hailey said.

She had learned many things at camp but one thing stood out.

"I learned how to get my shot on," Hailey said.

As far as her favorite drill, she picked an event that she won last year; hotshot.

"You have one minute," she said. "You shoot all over. You shoot a three-pointer and have to make two layups."

Her best score early in camp was 14.

This year's 2018 M-ette Basketball Camp Champions are: 1 on 1: 3rd/4th Jada Wyse, 5th/6th Denvyr Tuss, 7th/8th Aubri Werk. Free Throws: 3rd/4th Avi Oxarart, 5th/6th Eva Yeadon, 7th/8th Maddie Williamson. Hot Shot: 3rd/4th Renzey Raymond, 5th/6th Eva Yeadon, 7th/8th Kylee Nelson.