M-ettes to host camp

Malta M-ette Coach Nate Hammond and the team are set to host the 2020 M-ette Summer Basketball Camp, giving girls 3rd grade to 8th grade the chance to hit the hardwood.

"We will have the high school kids helping," Coach Hammond said.

Coach Hammond will also be assisted by assistant coach Shane Anderson and Mardee Scott.

The three-day camp is set to start on Monday, June 22, and end on Wednesday, June 24. Each day of camp is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the camp is limited to a total of 45 students, but Coach Hammond said that the camp doesn't typically exceed more than 50 students every year.

He is optimistic that the camp will be held, but he said that he was going to keep track of the COVID-19 virus updates to ensure that the camp can be run safely.

At camp, students will practice skills of the game including dribbling, shooting, layups, defense, and passing.

"We do fundamental stations and break the kids up into smaller groups," Coach Hammond said. "We like to have some competition type exercises including one-on-ones and shooting competitions. We will practice free throws and we will have fun as well."

Coach Hammond said that camp will have daily award winners. Though he did not mention what awards would be given this year, in previous years awards were given to 1-on-1 Champions, Free Throw Champions, and Hot-Shot Champions.

"I don't know if it will be exactly how it has been in the past but we will be pretty flexible and try to make it work," Coach Hammond said.

The high school M-ettes hit the court for the first time since COVID-19 shut down the State B Tournament in March. The team participated in open gym activities the day that phase 2 began in the State of Montana.

"I haven't seen most of these girls since the state tournament," Coach Hammond said.

Coach Hammond believes that in June, the team will participate in a tournament in Billings on the campus of MSU-Billings.

"There isn't much going on in June, especially at the colleges," Coach Hammond said. "I think that has to do with NCAA rules and recruiting regulations."

Though basketball is typically a year-round thing for teams around the state, Coach Hammond has not given the team any home workout suggestions, but he said that several of the M-ettes have been shooting basketballs at home.

"It will be good to get them back in the gym and see how they are doing," Coach Hammond said. "I know I have seen a couple of them walking around and I can tell that they have grown a little bit, so that's kind of neat. They are a good group of kids."