Torch passed at youth basketball camp

  • Published
  • By Dean Siemon
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Donny Bretzinger, of the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, has a passion for the sport of basketball that has passed on to his three kids -- Kross, Ki'Ara and De'Jeera.

So when he learned about the free Drills 4 Skill Basketball Clinic hosted by the Peninsula High School boys' basketball team Dec. 20 at the JBLM Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS) sports gymnasium on Lewis Main, it was a perfect learning opportunity for his kids.

"They're sticking to the fundamentals of basketball and community service," Bretzinger said. "It's a great way to get them out to meet people. It pays everybody back by getting out here."

In total, 80 JBLM children, ranging from 7 to 15 years old, filled the gym to learn the team's 10 defensive commandments and core values. The Peninsula Seahawks are currently ranked seventh in Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's 3A classification and stand at the top of the 3A South Puget Sound League.

Each year, the team coordinates youth camps with local kids near their high school gymnasium in Gig Harbor -- about a 25-mile drive from JBLM across Tacoma's Narrows Bridge. A few months prior, Jackson began discussing plans with team assistant Kanisha McLaughlin to organize the team's community service projects. Last year, the team helped prepare and serve dinner for the Tacoma Rescue Mission.

But Head Coach Jake Jackson said it was a new opportunity for his players to give back to the military community and support families that sacrifice. In addition, the camp also gave his players a chance to grow outside of their Kitsap County area.

"Teaching our kids to expand outside of their comfort zone and be able to learn how to coach youth is important," Jackson said. "It's passing the torch forward and growing the passion of the sport."

Jackson also mentioned that Doug Andrews, Peninsula's C-team coach, was a former Army Ranger stationed at JBLM. The two met in 2010 when they were assistant coaches at Sumner High School before coming to Peninsula.

"Just knowing Doug and all of the things he has done for me, I wanted to give back to the base where he learned so much," Jackson said.

It was a new experience for several of the Seahawks including junior JaQuori McLaughlin, who recently committed to play college basketball for the University of Washington after he graduates from Peninsula.

While he had never been to a military base before JBLM, he felt quite at home inside the CYSS gym with a basketball in his hand and eager children wanting to absorb as much basketball knowledge as they can.

"This is a basketball court and we do what we do to teach them the game of basketball," McLaughlin said. "It is a humbling feeling them knowing who we are."

The overall turnout was one of the largest youth basketball camps CYSS has hosted. Afterward, the team handed out basketballs and shorts with the team's colors and logo displayed.

McLaughlin said the camp is another way that her and her husband have instilled the value being role models into both JaQuori and his younger brother Elijah, who also plays on the team.

"These kids (at JBLM) can see there is a positive program that is giving back to the community, so they will want to as well," she said.