Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Bree Hanson, Skylights basketball camp

While basketball isn't always synonymous with the summertime, there has been plenty of hoops action going on inside the Armory Gymnasium this week and really all summer long as Montana State University-Northern Skylights hosted their annual camp this week.

The Skylights hosted their youth camp and had players in grades 4-6 in their gym this week and one of the players in attendance was 10-year-old Bree Hanson, who just happens to be the daughter of former Skylight Jena (Heggem) Hanson.

"She was on one of the first teams I coached when I was here," MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat said. "She was actually driving just ahead of us when our bus crashed. She turned around and came back to help us. She was a good player."

Obviously, basketball is in the blood of Bree Hanson, who will be a fifth-grader at Sunnyside next year. She was one of approximately 30 young players in attendance for camp this week, which included plenty of fun and games, but also some key instructional time.

"I worked a lot of dribbling and taking care of the ball," Hanson said. "They showed me some new things and that was something new that I learned."

In addition to being coached by Mouat, there were several MSU-N players in attendance, as well, to assist in running the camp and coaching the 30-some players that came out to participate.

For Hanson, the future seems bright. Not only was her mom a college athlete, but her father, Garrett Hanson, was a standout wrestler at Havre High. He also is recognized as one of the top wrestling officials in the state of Montana and routinely works at the All-Class State tournament in Billings.

With sports obviously in her blood, it feels like Hanson has a future in hoops, especially with the enthusiasm she showed throughout camp. After one of the many drills she competed in, the Havre Daily News caught up with her for five questions.

HDN: What brings you to basketball camp this week?

Hanson: "Well my mom used to play for Northern, so that's one reason, and I also just really like basketball."

HDN: When did you start playing basketball?

Hanson: "I have been playing it for a while and have always liked it, but I really started getting into it when I was in second grade."

HDN: What is your favorite part about the game of basketball?

Hanson: "It just makes me feel good. I get a really good feeling when I play."

HDN: So are you a big fan of the Skylights?

Hanson: "Yes. We have seats and we go to all the games."

HDN: What has been the best part of the camp this week?

Hanson: "I really like the bean-bag game. Coach gives us a place to shoot from and if you make it you get a bean bag and you just try to get as many as you can and the team with the most at the end wins and it's really fun. They also taught me a new rhythm for ball handing a bunch of other things."