By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Despite last Thursday’s sunny, humid day, 23 youth took advantage of the Maine Red Claws/Dunkin’ Donuts basketball clinic held on U.S. Route 1 in the Dead River parking lot.
“I thought everything went great,” said Red Claws coach Austin Ainge. “It was a beautiful day, we had a good turnout and I think the kids had fun.” 
HIGH FIVE – Nick Perfitt, right, gets a high five from Crusher, the Red Claws mascot during last week’s basketball clinic held at Dead River on North St. in conjunction with Dunkin’ Donuts.
The Red Claws is an NBA Development League affiliated with the Boston Celtics and Charolette Bobcats.
Ainge opened the clinic discussing defense and the correct stance, followed by ball handling drills around cones. The children were broken up into two groups, dribbling around the cones using both their right and left hands. After a few minutes, Ainge set the groups into a race to see which team could finish getting through their lines first maintaining their ball control. Then, the drills went into right and left-handed layups. In both contests, the groups competed in friendly competition, with the losing group doing 10 jumping jacks. But, those jumping jacks were not arduous, they were done quickly with smiles and laughter.
Nick Perfitt and Jacob Worthley were among those attending the camp, and found it rewarding.
“I learned to fight through defense when your legs are burning,” Perfitt said.
JUMPER – Malachi Cummings throws up a jump shot during a drill at the Red Claws/Dunkin’ Donuts basketball clinic held last Thursday in Houlton.
Worthley added, “I learned to keep the ball low and your head up. I also learned dribbling skills and what BEEF meant.”
“Yeah, I didn’t know what BEEF stood for,” Perfitt said.
BEEF is an acronym used for the correct form on jump shots — balance, eyes, elbow and follow through.
The next drill was the “up and over” contest, with the first person passing the ball over his/her head and then the next passing the ball through his/her legs and the last person would race to the beginning of the line.
Ainge ended the session with a reflex game. He had the participants keep their eyes on him, listening to see if he bounced the ball on the pavement and clapping when he did. Sometimes, Ainge faked the bounce and many participants found themselves shaking their heads or laughing at their miscue, sitting down and waiting for a winner.
GETTING A LITTLE LIFT – Young Logan Topsfer gets a helping hand from Red Claws coach Austin Ainge during last week’s Maine Red Claws/Dunkin’ Donuts basketball clinic.
At the end of the fun, Ainge did a review with the children and then handed out autographed Red Claw photographs and water bottles.
“I’ve heard a lot of this stuff before from other coaches,” Worthley said. “But, I only briefly heard of them (Red Claws). I have never been to a game, but I want to go now.”
“Our clinic is just a way to say thank you to all our fans,” Ainge said. “It’s a chance for us and Dunkin’ Donuts to teach the fundamentals of the game.”
“I had never heard of them either,” Perfitt added. “But, it was pretty cool.”
Ainge said the principal goal was “to try and help kids and make sure they have fun.”
Perfitt and Worthley both had fun and went away wanting to work harder at the game.
HAVING FUN – Jason Collett concentrates on dribbling around cones.
Ronald Spencer, center, high fives another participant of the Maine Red Claws/Dunkin’ Donuts basketball clinic. The clinic taught basic fundamentals of the game of basketball through games and drills.
