New girls basketball coach wants kids to get excited about hoops program

New Weiser High School girls basketball coach Laraine Harrison held her first basketball camp for local girls ranging in age from second grade through high school.
 The camp helped improve and strengthen skills while still being fun and exciting.      
 Harrison feels it’s important to hold kids’ camps that are fun and that promote high school athletics.
 “We want to get girls basketball here at Weiser to be something kids are excited about and want to be part of,” Harrison said.
 Growing up in Weiser and being a Wolverine athlete herself, Harrison is looking forward to being part of the basketball program once again.
 “I’m very excited to be here in Weiser, as this is where I was born and raised. I’m excited to be part of the Wolverine atmosphere because I know how excited people get and the support the athletes receive at games.”
 Harrison, a standout four year starter for the Wolverines who later went on to play at Idaho State University, knows what kind of skills and attitude her players will need to have to be successful in the upcoming season.
 “Being tough, having a lot of grit and never giving up is something that is inside everyone if they want to utilize it. I want our kids to have heart and no matter what team we play, no matter if we’re super talented or not, we’re going to fight hard and get after it,” She stated.
 The high school girls have had one tournament so far this summer and have another one coming up at TVCC. The girls were very coachable and had great attitudes according to Harrison.  
 Regarding the upcoming season, Harrison stated that her goal was to be competitive as they possibly could be. She also mentioned some of her long term plans and goals for the program.
 “We want to get the younger kids involved as much as we can so that we have a program that’s really strong for many years to come.” She plans on accomplishing this by hosting many camps and open gyms during the offseason.
 “I really like the kids we have. I really like the attitude; they’re in the gym, they’re here at camp trying to get better and help the younger kids coming up, getting them excited about basketball. I’m really excited about what we have to work with.”
 Laraine talked a little bit more about the tournament they played in.
 “I saw a lot of good things this last week. Even though it was a little rough around the edges against teams with a little more experience as this is a new group of girls working together, by the end of the tournament, I saw a lot of improvement. That’s exciting because with just the short amount of time we’ve been working together, they’ve improved a lot. I think when we go to team camp next week we’ll get even better. With new coaching and new plays, we’ll get there and definitely be competitive.”