For the fourth straight year, First Baptist Church of Bratt offered kids the chance to learn two types of fundamentals — basketball and the Bible.

Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach held a camp for children ages 8-14 on Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until noon at the church’s gymnasium. The youngsters learned a variety of skills, including shooting, dribbling, passing and teamwork. Dutremble, a former NBA assistant coach, led the camp with the help of his assistants.

“This is truly a blessing for us to be able to offer this camp,” student pastor Tim Hawsey said. “It’s still hard for me to grasp that we can have someone of coach Dutremble’s ability and knowledge to come down here and teach our kids.”

Dutremble’s camp also includes short devotionals and scripture lessons, approximately every hour or so. He said that he picks passages that have special meaning for basketball, as well as life.

“I feel like I have the same message to bring to the kids,” Dutremble said. “It’s both about the fundamentals of basketball, and the fundamentals of Christianity. I try to pick passages that have a special meaning, whether in basketball, or just in life.”

The camp was $45 per student, but every single penny of that money is used to purchase shoes and sports equipment for needy children in other countries where Dutremble holds camps.

“I was very blessed to have learned from some amazing coaches,” Dutremble said. “I didn’t want to keep all that knowledge locked up; I wanted to share it with kids and other coaches. After this year, we’ll have ministered to 38,000 children over 12 years.”

Dutremble is a retired coach and a member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979-83, and helped the team win three championships. Dutremble was also a national coach for teams in Belgium, Scotland and Jordan. For his career, he compiled a record of 687-117 and seven championships.

A total of 39 kids registered for this year’s camp.

“It’s just a blessing to be a part of this ministry,” Hawsey said. “Coach Dutremble is a great Christian man.”