By Staff
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
Johnny Berry wanted to accomplish two things with this past week's Hoop Squad Hartselle Basketball Camp:
1. To learn as much as possible about fundamentals.
2. To have fun.
Berry said he believes those two things were accomplished.
"We had a great time," he said. "We had a lot of good kids and a great staff helping me.
"This was one of our best camps."
Berry admitted numbers were down from last summer, but said there is a good reason for it.
"You had Brewer, Austin and Decatur having their camps at the same time," he said. "We all had big groups, and it's tough to have a big camp with so many others going on.
"Still, we had a great week."
Berry had more than 130 kids at the camp. He had the likes of girl's head basketball coach Greg Adams, B-Team head coach Gary Orr and freshman coach Keith Wright at his side for help.
Former assistant girl's basketball coach Nikki Peebles, volleyball head coach Tanya Lybarger, along with junior high coaches Steve Knight and Johnny Sivley, and players also helped put on the camp.
Berry said he couldn't say enough about the help he received from sponsors of the camp.
"When you have people at Hartselle Sporting Goods, Dari Delite and Pepsi helping, it makes the camp go so much better," Berry said.
Peck-Glasgow Insurance provided coverage for the campers, and Berry said nothing too major happened as far as injuries.
"We had somebody chip a tooth and another twist an ankle," he said. "But, nothing too major. Everything went smooth."
Berry said he wants to concentrate on building up numbers from the younger group.
"We have to get that group's numbers up," he said. "If we can get the younger ones in here they will be coming to the camp for a long time.
"You know, I would love to do this camp two or three times a year. I'm very proud of it."
Berry does not have much time to rest, though. Starting Friday, his Hartselle Tigers will be taking part in The University of Alabama Team Camp, which will last through Sunday.
Berry and the Hartselle Tigers are coming off a Final Four appearance in the 2002-2003 season.