Colfax hosts 29 teams for girls' hoop camp

Colfax this week is playing host to 29 girls basketball teams which are participating in this year’s edition of the Colfax Basketball Camp staged by Colfax Coach Cory Baerlocher. He has help from a host of volunteers, including parents, former Colfax players and former players from other schools.

Baerlocher, who has booked another session of the camp for next week, said the total count for the camp roster is 240 players.

The camp sessions started in 2003 with seven teams on the guest list. Record count for the camp was 36 teams for a week.

The 29 teams on site this week come from 19 different schools. Mountain Home, Idaho, which traveled eight hours from south of Boise to get to Colfax, gets this week’s longest-distance honor. Also on the scene are west side teams from Winlock and Raymond.

The teams play three games a day with a 20-minute running clock. The camp uses all three Colfax gyms plus the Steptoe gym for competition.

Teams play varsity, junior varsity and C squad matchups.

Baerlocher said he’s sometimes surprised by the number of players and former players from around the area who show up to help at the camp. This year’s volunteer corps even includes grads from the Lakeside Eagles when the A division team play the Bulldogs in the same league.

“These people just like to be around basketball,” Baerlocher explained. .

Teams stay in Colfax High classrooms at the high school and a volunteer crew keeps the cafeteria operating through a full day menu to provide food service.

Wednesday night was scheduled skit night, a sort of talent show which wraps up the last night in camp before the action wraps up on Thursday.

Camp staffers get a break before the second session begins at the start of next week. That session is expected to bring in 14 teams.