By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
More than 50 budding student-athletes participated in the girls’ summer basketball camp this week with aspirations of enhancing their game, requiring those around them to become just as sound both athletically and academically.
After all, it is a team sport that has produced a winning program under Abel Moreno, who is the varsity head coach at San Benito High School and whose opinion appears to be significantly valued by the participants.
“Anything you do in life and you become good at, it’s not magic that puts you there, it takes hard work to achieve it,” Moreno said to the campers.
The girls went through drills, such as layups, dribbling, and passing, which were emphasized through words like “communication” and “eye contact,” to drive home the message of playing as teammates.
These girls are experienced because many of them participate in the middle school basketball programs at Riverside, Berta Cabaza, and Miller Jordan, the latter having shared a district title after winning just one game the previous season.
It’s leverage coaches can use to motivate the girls, some of whom are growing into teenagers.
Moreno, however, gave credit where it was due, saying that if he’s considered the best hoops coach at SBHS, it’s because similar mentors are teaching the game at the sub-varsity and middle school levels.
It’s the reason coaches such as Luis Garza, Steve Moran, and Juan Recio were in attendance, providing instruction to these girls alongside them.
“What we want to do is make each other better,” said Moreno, as the campers came back from a break to hydrate and rest at Veterans Memorial Academy, where the three-day camp was held.
As the camp was nearing its conclusion and Moreno and others were preparing to leave, older girls who attend SBHS during the school year were entering the academy gym to begin warming up for their upcoming basketball practices.
Moreno pointed at the older girls while the campers sat on the gym floor, listening to Moreno, who said those girls are also passionate about the game and have a desire to learn the sport.
He said that as one gets older and advances to high school, time is a premium, even as the summer months approach.
“They are here because they have a passion for the game they love,” Moreno said. “If they miss practice, they don’t hurt (coaches), they hurt their team, because they’re the ones who are playing and learning with you. You count on each other like family. Everybody has a role.”
The seasoned coach was providing the young girls with valuable life lessons both in and out of the gym.
Coaches saw flashes of brilliance at times among the campers, some of whom handled the basketball very well as dribblers and passers, and baskets were made during five-on-five play.
Consecutive baskets made during two cone layup drills numbered four to six with the assistant coaches. Under the tutelage of Moreno, there were 11 straight layups made that went into the net.
A younger group and those who never played the game were separated so they could learn the most basic of fundamentals. They had one of seven layups enter the net, but Moreno doesn’t fret.
“That’s the great thing about coaching, we can teach them how to play this game,” he said.
Moreno has led the Lady Greyhounds’ Varsity Basketball Team to three consecutive bi-district titles, making three appearances in the area round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Recent Comments