The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BASKETBALL Smiles, back for its 14th consecutive year, brought another week of “smiles and hope through basketball” to a number of local boys and girls at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

Coach Sam Nichols, the all-time winningest Women’s Basketball Coach at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, was in town with about 10 coaches as they provided instructions to girls during the morning session and boys in the afternoon.

Nichols, invited here in 1999 by coach Patti Johnson of HO Nash Junior High School for the initial camp, said every year he’s been thrilled by the keen interest of the participants.

“We are really honoured to be able to touch so many lives,” said Nichols, adding that every year, they have been pleased to see the amount of campers who return each year to participate.

“We have campers who have come back three, four and five years, so we also get to build a relationship with them,” he said. “That is our focus.”

Nichols, who has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, said he continues to host the camp because he believes “in the future of the Bahamas and the boys and girls who participate in the camp. The camp develops good life skills,” he added.

Tanya Woodside, the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, was on hand to provide some positive encouragement to the participants.

The former track star’s speech dealt with the “Four-Way test of the things we think, say or do.” The four aspects were: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it be built and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

“I think it’s an awesome programme when you think about what the young kids are getting for free,” Woodside said. “We have these international coaches here giving up of themselves freely to raise the standard of basketball in our country and expose the young girls in a positive attitude.

“I’m really pleased to support this programme because I’m really pleased with what they have been doing.”

Jada Saunders, one of the most talented players in the camp, said she’s excited to once again be involved in the camp.

“It’s good for the young persons and for those of us who are older, it’s good for us to develop our skills,” she said.

“I got a more positive attitude to the game. It’s good for me to develop my fundamental skills. That’s basically what I’ve been able to take away from this programme.”

Patti Johnson, who will entertain the visiting group of coaches at HO Nash today, said every year they continue to impart the importance of the campers developing a positive attitude towards the game of basketball and life in general.

“Some times it takes more ways to bring your message across,” Johnson said.

“But I don’t think the kids understand the value of what is going on. As you look around and watch some of them, you wonder if they have it. So I’m very pleased that they are back because they get to reinforce the things that they tried to instil in them the year before.”

Annie Sands, another of the local organisers, said she is a product of the camp, having gone though the same routine that the campers did up to her graduation from HO Nash in 1993.

“The camp has grown and this year, we have almost 100 girls participating, so that is a plus,” she said.

“The thing that I want them to get from this is for them to become fundamentally sound and gain some life time experiences out of this. They need the fundamentals and that is what the camp teaches them.”

Jon Pastusek, who along with his wife Stephanie, said when he first came here with Nichols four years ago, he was so impressed that he made sure that it has been on his calendar ever since to return.

“We have such a good time every year we come,” he said. “Our goal is to make their lives much better than it was before we came. So we are very pleased with the contribution that we have made in impacting their lives.”