River Lions host PA Day clinic
About 50 kids spent Friday hooping it up at the Niagara River Lions PA Day Hoops camp at Canada Games Park.
Kids ages six to nine took part in the morning session on hoops lowered to eight feet and then aspiring hoopsters ages 10 to 13 hit the court in the afternoon.
Instructing at the clinic was Kimbal Mackenzie, the captain of the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League champions and the current coach of the Niagara College Knights women’s basketball team.
“A lot of it is fun-based. Goal No. 1 is to come in here and have a good time,” said MacKenzie, a former scholarship player at Bucknell University. “Goal No. 2 is to give them some things that they can hopefully translate. I remember when I was a pipsqueak going to various basketball camps. I remember leaving certain camps quite motivated with a couple of specific things in mind that I could practise at home. That is what I am trying to do. Give them things they can work on such as fundamentals skills that if you learn them when you are young, everything becomes a lot easier with this game.”
The PA camp also helps to build the River Lions’ brand but that is not Mackenzie’s priority.
“It doesn’t hurt but my main focus is to just help kids fall in love with the game that I fell in love with a long, long time ago and changed my life for the better in every way possible. My goal is to get the kids moving, following some direction and learning parts of the game.”
He loves interacting with the kids.
“My favourite part about running these clinics is the kids’ sense of humour. It’s something as we get older, you get a little bit duller but these kids are coming to me with wild imaginations. I tell them to pick teams names and I hear everything from Hamburger and Fries to the Flying Eagles. I love their energy.”
Mackenzie is looking forward to being back with the River Lions this summer as the team aims to defend its title.
“It is one of the best-run organizations in the CEBL. Every year the Meridian Centre has gotten more and more packed and the energy is better. Coming off a championship, I am excited to be back with the guys.”
He’s hoping many of his teammates will be back for another run at a title.
“We can have a lot of turnover but I am hoping. It is always tricky in professional sports but I think the more continuity you have, the better.”
Mackenzie is having a blast coaching at Niagara College.
“I am enjoying it a lot. We are 10-1 and we’re playing well. I have learned a lot so I am loving it.”
This will be the first time Mackenzie will head to training camp with the River Lions not coming off a season of playing ball overseas but he’s confident his game has not suffered.
“I have been doing this a long time and staying in shape is definitely a part of it. I am not going to forget how to play basketball but I am in the gym every single day with my girls. It’s just fine-tuning and making sure I am getting my reps.”
