After two months of learning and fun, Horizon Hoops ended their season last Saturday.
This year, 200 children participated in the league, the most Varsity coach Tim Wasilk has seen since he started three years ago.
From experienced to inexperienced, the league brought young girls into the gym to exercise and compete with their friends.
Each group was separated based on grade, elementary school, and skill level.
Horizon Hoops ran two sessions, each running one-hour long.
The first session was made of boys and girls from kindergarten through second grade.
The second session was made up of girls from grades 3-8.
Each participant had two weeks of instruction where they learned the fundamentals of playing basketball.
The following six weeks were filled with games, each 50 minutes long with normal rules and scoring.
The line-up was rotated every five minutes so everyone had an opportunity to play.
Varsity girls? basketball players were there every Saturday to help. Taking a break as players, they helped as referees, coaches, and role models to future players.
For the varsity players, it was a learning lesson as well.
‘It gives them a chance to be in the coach’s and the referee’s shoes,? said Wasilk.
Most varsity players participated in the league and at summer camps.
‘It’s a good atmosphere to learn and have fun,? said Wasilk.
It gave kids an opportunity to get out and play with friends, classmates, meet new people, and a place to go while the weather was too cold to go outside, he said.
‘There is so much the kids can do in the community,? said mom, Amy Doty. ‘Thank goodness.?
Wasilk has been in charge of Horizon Hoops since he started working in Clarkston three years ago. In his first year, he had 100 participants and the participation has grown every year.
Next year, Wasilk has a goal for more instruction on the fundamentals of basketball.