Girls basketball stages free camp in Ramona

By Bill Tamburrino

Ramona High School’s girls basketball program performed a community service when coaches and varsity

players held a mini-camp and drop-in league in the school gym.

Participation in the four-day camp was free. And the girls even hosted a barbecue on the final night of the camp.

The camp was from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday with a three-game finale on Thursday night.

“We had emphasized fundamentals and teamwork,” said Coach Dan Marshall. “We had campers that ranged from ages 8 to 13 on the same teams, so we had to emphasize the passing game and team play. If there was teammate between you and the basket, you had to pass it to him/her. The older campers were great and not only improved their games but helped with the younger campers.”

It also was great for the varsity players, Marshall said.

“Research shows that teaching helps the learning process,” he said. “Our players did a great job of teaching the fundamentals and coaching the daily games.”

The first of the three games the RHS girls basketball program hosted on Thursday evening was for the campers. It gave their parents a chance to see what they had learned.

The second game was for the RHS girls’ basketball teams. The final game was a girls basketball alumni game.

Joe Bess coached the girls who had played for him and/or Larry Bringham, and Mary Schoepp coached the girls who have played during Marshall’s and Erin O’Connor’s tenure.

The alumni covered two generations. The key matchup in the alumni game was former Miss Ramona Kayla

Lawler, who guarded her mother, Kelly Lawler (Webb in her playing days). Both post players scored in the paint, collected several rebounds and were called for fouls against each other by referee Jim Root.

Several pictures from the alumni game are posted on the various social networks with comments. The campers and alumni ranged from 8 to not quite 80, and they all said they had fun thanks to the Lady Bulldog Basketball program.

In addition to Marshall, morning camp coaches included Bess, Ken Sheib, Kellie Schoepp (Mary’s daughter) and players on the varsity girls team.