Montserrat National Team's Ohio Schedule Announced

Montserrat National Team's Ohio Schedule

Wednesday, 10/20

Arrival

Thursday, 10/21

8:00 AM: Breakfast @ Hotel

10:00 AM: Practice @ Ohio University-Chillicothe (Shoemaker Center)

1:00 PM: Cookout @ Mr. & Mrs. Shoemaker's

6:00 PM: Piketon Open Gym/Workout

8:30 PM: Piketon Dinner

Friday, 10/22

7:30 AM: Breakfast @ Hotel

9:30 AM: Exhibition/Presentation/Q & A Assembly @ PV

1:00 PM: Practice @ Paint Valley High School

4:00 PM: Tour of Ohio Christian University, Pre-Game Meal

7:00 PM: OCU Game

Saturday, 10/23

8:00 AM: Breakfast @ Hotel

1:30 PM: Lunch @ Karen & Army Armstrong's

6:00 PM: Game @ Rio Grande

8:30 PM: Dinner @ Coach Anderson & Kristy's

Sunday, 10/24

8:00 AM: Breakfast @ Hotel

2:00 PM: Game @ OU-Chillicothe

6:00 PM: So. Ohio Hog Roast @ Marianne & Coach Shoe’s

Monday, 10/25

8:00 AM: Breakfast @ Hotel

10:00 AM: Depart for Columbus

11:15 AM: Lunch in Columbus

1:30 PM: Meet Coach Jim Tressel and the Ohio State football team.

3:00 PM: Ohio State Basketball Practice

8:00 PM: Dinner @ Lori & Canon Anderson's

Tuesday, 10/26

8:00 AM: Breakfast @ Hotel

10:00 AM: Depart for Morgantown

1:00 PM: Lunch in Morgantown

3:00 PM: West Virginia Basketball Practice

10:00 PM: Dinner @ Hotel (Pizzas, Subs, etc)

Wednesday, 10/27

Departure

First-ever Montserrat Basketball Camp a Success

From the Government of Montserrat's website:

BRADES, Montserrat – The first ever basket ball camp to be held in Montserrat, wrap up here on Friday August 20th.

The week long camp which was held under the theme “Reach One Teach One – Building Bridges to Success” attracted approximately 50 children and youth and 40 young adults, has been deemed a success by organizers Mr. Warren Cassell of the Warren Cassell Foundation and Mr. Beresford Mack of MC Media Inc. The camp was run by Coach David Shoemaker and Coach Joshua Anderson assisted by the Ministry of Sports in the Government of Montserrat. It was sponsored by the UK based sports agency ‘Chances For All Sports, telecommunications giant LIME, Caribbean Cable Communications, Delta Petroleum, alongside local airline Fly Montserrat and Montserrat Utilities Ltd, Government of Montserrat with support from other local businesses and individuals.

According to Coach Shoemaker “the kids are amazing”. Coach Shoe, as he is affectionately called, went on to say that the youth had shown tremendous improvement in just a few days and that it was a joy working with them and seeing them follow instructions, practice their drills even after the session is over for the day and helping and encouraging each other. He is confident that there is a lot of raw talent in Montserrat and is committed to continue to assist by sending back drills and other materials to the coaches. He expects that the youth will continue to practice, given the interest shown and the talent exhibited.

The US coaches have already put in motion a plan to get the local talents exposed by organizing to take a team to Ohio in October. These youth will be exposed to basket players at College and High School level. By interacting with players and their coaches, playing with and against them and seeing them going through their routines, the Montserratian youth will get an idea of what it is like to play serious basket ball. It is hoped that coming out of this trip some of the players will catch the eye of selectors; but whether they do or not, whether they out play their competition or not, the experience will be great.

Speaking at a luncheon for the coaches and organizers on Thursday, Mr. Joseph Cassell, Country Manager of LIME, one of the sponsors reiterated LIME’s commitment to Sports, Education and the Youth, saying that it was ‘a natural fit to provide sponsorship for this camp’. He congratulated the organizers and resource persons involved in the program and the young people for ‘coming out to get some training and activity other than computer based material’. He was particularly pleased by the response of the youth, because of the health benefits of an active lifestyle and because involvement in sports is a deterrent to youthful criminal activity. He appealed to the youth themselves to keep ‘playing ball’ and to parents, the school system and society at large to help keep up the momentum with their support and active involvement.

Mr. Cassell took the opportunity to assure the Montserrat public and the Diaspora of his company’s support and the many new and exciting products and services available.