Coach Steven Begay goes over strategy with his travel squad at the Blazers Rip City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament played earlier this month in Portland. Begay is opening an invitation to all male and female hoops players from the fifth-through-ninth grades to join the inaugural T.E.A.M. Basketball program for tournaments every Sunday in a league setting.
Coach Steven Begay goes over strategy with his travel squad at the Blazers Rip City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament played earlier this month in Portland. Begay is opening an invitation to all male and female hoops players from the fifth-through-ninth grades to join the inaugural T.E.A.M. Basketball program for tournaments every Sunday in a league setting.
DUFUR – From baseball to basketball, Dufur High School graduate Steven Begay loves to bring the game to local youths.
Earlier this summer, he coached a 12U group, called Slammin’ Salmon, to a 6-0 record, where they outscored opponents by a 120-42 margin to secure first place at the Blazers Rip City 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in Portland.
“I have always enjoyed coaching,” Begay said. “When I was in school, I was considered a good athlete, but I tell my brother, my father, my sisters, and even my wife, that I am trying to give back what I learned at all the camps I did. I love giving back to the kids. They are a big part of me that I carry close.”
With a focus on providing other fall athletic options besides football, soccer and volleyball, Begay is headlining the ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’ T.E.A.M. Basketball program.
The athletes signed in to the hoops platform will have the chance to compete at a high level for weekend tournaments scheduled to run from Sept. 22 to Oct. 28 as part of the HoopSource Youth Basketball League in Portland with two games every Sunday.
This travel ball program is open for boys and girls in Sherman, Maupin, Dufur and The Dalles and is aiming to reach fifth grade girls, seventh grade boys, eighth grade boys and possibly high school boys, so everyone has a good opportunity to try out during the three-day sessions held here locally.
“I look at what some of the boys and girls are doing right now and feel that we have the potential for success at all these schools in the area,” Begay said. “It is exciting to see their development and the only way to get it is by playing at other parts of the year instead of just winter.”
The former baseball, football and basketball standout centers his coaching style around discipline, while also challenging athletes to get better.
He has made that style work wonders for six years in the Parks and Recreation leagues, Dufur Middle School, summer hoops events and on the Little League diamonds in both Dufur and The Dalles.
“I focus on fundamentals and always try to make sure the kids are having fun with what I am teaching them,” Begay said. “Teamwork is what I strive for and is one of the main focuses of my coaching philosophy. We want to get the kids staying active. If they can work hard on their game, they can definitely take it to the next level.”
Tryouts are coming up next weekend, so any interested parties can contact Begay at 541-980-2125 or through email at steven_begay@hotmail.com for more information.
“I believe in all these local athletes,” Begay said. “Some of them have the ability to play at the collegiate level, but it all has to come from them and what they are willing to put into it.”
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.