Photos Courtesy of Dwight Gingerich
Off-season doesn’t mean downtime for the Hillcrest Academy boys basketball program. Hillcrest Union was full of players this summer at the annual Raven basketball camp. Staff consisting of Dwight Gingerich, Stephen Bender, Mitchell Drey, Aaron Gingerich, Nate Miller, Chris Nachtigall and Ron Swartzendruber welcomed 135 campers from first grade through seniors, who spent the week working on their skills. Current Raven players Bryce Bailey, Kale Bailey, Lydia Beachy, Niva Helmuth, Charlie McAndrew, Rowan Miller, Maria Portillo, Owen Scott and Claire Withrow joined the staff to help instruct first through fourth graders each afternoon.
Several contests took place during the week. In 1-on-1, the sophomore through senior champ was Bryce Bailey, Kale Bailey won the freshman category, Gibson Owen was eighth grade champ, Oliver Miller took the seventh grade category, Derek Ebersole won sixth grade, Riley Gordinier was the fifth grade champion. In H-O-R-S-E Bryce Bailey was the 10 to 12 grade winner. Kale Bailey was freshman champ, Joe Kelchen was eighth grade, Jaxson Gingerich the seventh grade division title, Drayce Miller sixth, and Riley Gordinier fifth. In the free throw contest, Seth Ours was the 10th through 12th champion, Teage Pepper the freshman winner, Jude Ours took eighth grade, Abe Widmer seventh, Braxton Ropp sixth and Riley Gordinier fifth. In the spot shooting challenge, Seth Ours was the 10th through 12th grade winner, Kale Bailey the freshman champ, Jude Ours in eighth, Oliver Miller seventh, Kellen Miller sixth and Riley Gordinier fifth.
Other awards givien out during the week include Best Defender. That went to Rowan Miller at the high school level, Bronx Miller for seventh and eighth grade and Braxton Ropp fifth and sixth grade. Mr. Hustle was Isaac Birky at the high school level, Abe Widmer in seventh and eighth grade and Derek Ebersole fifth and sixth grade. Best high school Rebounder was Kale Bailey, in seventh and eighth it was Kendrick Kos and fifth and sixth was Kellen Miller. Most Outstanding High School Camper was Bryce Bailey, seventh and eighth Gibson Scott and fifth and sixth Drayce Miller. Mr. Fundamental was Seth Ours at the high school level, Oliver Miller in seventh and eighth grade and Brayden Humphries at fifth and sixth.