Coach Kirk Manns says the Seymour Owls boys’ basketball camp keeps getting bigger each year.

“We’ve got about 140 campers. That’s a great number. That is the most since I started coaching basketball, which is six years ago,” he said following Tuesday’s session in the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium.

The campers were divided into two groups, kindergarten-fourth grade, and fifth-eighth grades. The younger groups were taught the basics, while the older campers worked on more advanced parts of their game.

Manns said, “You’ve got the K through fourth kids, where the main thing is to have them interested, and to make sure they like being here and keep coming back at a young age, and as they get older, we’re able to do a little bit more with them in terms of the fundamental things.”

He said of the older group, “As they get older, if they are doing the things at the lower level, they get a little better and get a little more skilled.

“We’re working with all levels, all kids. We (coaches) like what we are doing. All our coaches are here working hard. We’re trying to make sure we continue to build our program and go in the right direction.”

Cooper Fritsch, an incoming seventh grader, said this is his third year coming to the camp.

“Basketball is a game that is fun. I like playing it,” he said. “Basketball is probably my favorite sport.”

Fritsch said he enjoys shooting layups and jump shots from the free throw line and beyond.

“I’m working on jump shots, and left-handed layups and right-handed layups.”

He has previously attended a football camp and a baseball camp. “I like making friends and being able to play with them.”

Charlie Stewart, an incoming fifth grader, was attending the camp for the first time, and said he wants to work on his shooting at the camp.

He said he likes to shoot layups and jump shots.

Manns had the older camper’s scrimmage 5-on-5 and Stewart said, “I like to look for the open man.”

Stewart said he is also going to an IU basketball camp and an IU baseball camp.

“I like being with my friends, I like the competition and all that stuff,” he said.

Evan Ahlbrand, an incoming eighth grader, said this is his third year attending the camp.

He is right-handed and is working on improving shooting and dribbling left-handed.

Ahlbrand said, “I can shoot outside. Sometimes I don’t like to, but if I’m open I’m shooting.”

He has been playing with the freshmen in a league at Clarksville.

Ahlbrand said he hopes the camp and playing in the summer league will help him and his school team in the winter. “I’m hoping it will help us win more games. I like to play defense. I like to play man.”

He also runs cross country and track. “I like to run the 800, the mile and the two-mile. Distance running is really hard, and I like the challenge.”

Manns said, “We’re having a great camp, having a good time. I think the kids are having a good time. All our (high school) players are here, interacting with the kids. It’s a good week to be an Owl.”