By KYLE LOVERN

Sports Editor

WEST WILLIAMSON – The 18^th annual First Baptist Church Bible Basketball Camp is scheduled for the week of July 9-13 at the Williamson Fieldhouse.

This year’s camp will be held in honor of the late Virginia Williamson who served as the Bible Basketball Camp chairman the last five years. Williamson, who assisted with the camp for 18 years, recently lost her courageous battle with cancer.

The long running camp has a two-fold purpose of teaching the basics necessary to play the game of basketball and learning the basics of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Each evening the kids will learn something new about the game from various coaches and instructors. They will also learn tips about faith, prayer and the good news of Christ.

On Friday there will be a championship pizza party for all the hard work the kids put forth during the week. Frankie Smith, newly hired head coach at Mingo Central, will be the special guest speaker on Friday the final evening at the camp.

The directors of this year’s First Baptist Church Bible Basketball Camp are Christy Belcher, Kandi Justice, Larry Hurley and Robin Griffey. Griffey is the daughter of Virginia Williamson.

Several members of the church will volunteer as coaches and other veteran players from the area will also assist with the camp. Volunteers will also help with drinks, registration and other duties needed to make the camp a success.

One of the instructors will be Garland “Rabbit” Thompson, head coach of the Class AA state championship Tug Valley Panthers.

The cost of the camp is only $5, which goes for the cost of the T-shirt each camp participant receives. Each youngster will also receive a free Bible.

The times each evening for the original camp will be 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. for kindergarten to 3rd Grade and 7:30 -9:00 p.m. for the 4th through 6th graders.