PINEDALE – Wrangler Gym sprang to life during the dog days of summer this week, as college basketball coaches and athletes teamed up with approximately 70 local athletes for the annual Higher Ceiling Hoops Camp in Pinedale.

This year’s camp began on Tuesday of this week and ran through Thursday, with both morning and afternoon sessions. Athletes in grades 8-12 met in the morning, while youth in grades 2-7 attended in the afternoon.

Those who attended learned a variety of skills and team oriented concepts and philosophies, according to camp director and Eastern Oregon University assistant coach Kevin Attila.

“The biggest thing we like to teach is how to make the game fun and what the elements of successful basketball consist of,” Attila said. “Basketball is a fascinating game and being able to relay knowledge to these kids is special.”

Steve Gosar founded the camp, but handed the reins to Attila and a field of college coaches and athletes to operate three years ago.

Coaches in attendance this year included camp director Attila, College of Idaho assistant coaches Colby Blaine and Andy Harrington, Montana Tech assistant coach Derek Selvig and former Boise State University men’s basketball athlete Montigo Alford.

“The coaches and myself look forward to our annual trip to Pinedale every summer,” he said. “Bizzy Gosar and the rest of the Gosar family have made this possible and we are very appreciative of them and the rest of the Pinedale community.”