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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A recent basketball clinic in Fort Providence has moved Deh Gah School a step closer to forming a basketball team.

Nick Diem, Basketball NWT's technical director, was in the community from Nov. 25 to 27 leading sessions for elementary and high school students.

The school is slowly building up interest in the sport, said Jeremy Kielstra, who helped organize the clinic.

The goal to introduce basketball began last year when a few teachers started a phys-ed class to focus on the sport. Before the class, few students at the school were interested in the game, Kielstra said.

This year, Kielstra and fellow teacher Laura MacKinnon have been running an after-school basketball program on Wednesdays.

Approximately 20 students and four Fort Providence RCMP officers play in the weekly pick-up games.

"There's interest there, I think," said Kielstra.

The clinic was the next step in building the students' basketball skills.

Diem worked with the elementary students on the fundamental building blocks for basketball, Kielstra said.

Games helped the approximately 10 to 15 participants become comfortable with the ball. One required students to throw the ball up as high as possible and then clap their hands multiple times before catching it.

"They had a blast," he said.

With the middle school and high school students, of which approximately 10 attended, Diem played fun activities and hybrid games such as basketball baseball and ultimate Frisbee with basketballs.

The clinic finished on Sunday with a two-on-two tournament and other activities for the older participants.

Axell Bouvier, 14, attended all three days of the clinic.

"I wanted to learn and get better at basketball," he said.

Bouvier said it was pretty cool having Diem show them how to play the sport.

"I learned how to shoot better," he said.

Rodgerick Yakinneah also took advantage of having a clinic in the community, coming out to sessions on all three days.

"It was fun," he said.

Yakinneah, 17, said he improved a few of his skills, including ball handling and shooting.

Both Bouvier and Yakinneah said they'd be eager to join a basketball team if they school had one.

Kielstra said the school's next step is to start a basketball program with the hamlet's recreation department for the younger students.

In order to start a team, the school needs someone willing to volunteer as a coach.

Deh Gah School is promoting basketball as a way to broaden the athletic horizon of the students, said Kielstra.

"It's another physical activity that our students can be involved in," he said.

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