The Sweet Home Huskies summer boys basketball team played a tough schedule of games at the Sedro Woolley Team Camp over the weekend, winning just three of nine in a field of nine teams.
Their schedule included teams from Seattle Christian, Sedro Woolley, Darrington, Tumwater, Hoquiem, Sultan and Forks. Nine varsity teams attended the camp, which was split into two sessions this year, so it was smaller than last year’s field of more than 30 teams.
With visiting freshman and junior varsity teams, the camp had 22 teams total.
“We beat up on Sultan pretty good,” Coach Tim Little said. “We beat up on Hoquiem and split with Darrington. They’re all very good teams.”
The opposition seemed to be better organized at this point than Sweet Home, Coach Little said. “It was just real competitive basketball. They were playing at a real high level, and we just didn’t respond as we should.”
The challenge facing the Huskies hit its peak in the last three games of the tournament, on Sunday and Monday, when they played with only six. Cody Shipp went out on an injury, and Garrett Kauffman, a main scoring weapon in earlier tournaments, had to leave early.
The junior varsity finished 4-5 and played beyond expectations, Coach Little said.
“We had a great time,” Coach Little said. “It was nothing but basketball,” except one trip to the mall.
“With who we lost last year, we’re just trying to find our own identity right now,” Coach Little said. “It’s coming along. It’s certainly not going to happen over night.”
The games provided some big basketball moments, where the Huskies could focus on team concept, team chemistry and mental toughness.
“We’re building on that,” Coach Little said. “The rest of the stuff is the easy part.”
Next up, the Huskies will wind up their summer season at a 48-team tournament in Reno, Nev. beginning July 16 with seven or eight players attending.