Basketball by the Sea: Building Skills and Lifelong Memories in St. Andrews

The annual Basketball by the Sea Camp has become a cherished event in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, bringing top-level coaching and a love of basketball to local youth. In a recent interview on Southwest Magazine on CHCO-TV with host Vicki Hogarth, the camp’s founder Joe Ticotsky and coach Brandon Sherrod shared the story of its beginnings, the camp’s growth, and their basketball journeys.

Ticotsky, originally from Connecticut, recalled the serendipitous moment that sparked the camp’s creation. “10 years ago in January, I went to a concert in Fredericton... I contacted the athletic director at the school and asked if they had a game. He said they didn’t but invited me to a practice. Then he said, ‘I’m going to start running a camp this summer. Do you have coaches you could bring up with you?’” With his passion for basketball and strong coaching connections, Ticotsky helped establish Basketball by the Sea, which is now marking its 10th anniversary.

Brandon Sherrod, assistant coach at Yale University and a former professional basketball player, shared his unique path into coaching. “I got a really random call from my [former] coach [when I was a player at Yale] last May, asking if I wanted to join the staff. I’d already signed to play another season professionally in Israel, but I saw it as a great opportunity to return to a place I knew well.” His return proved significant as Yale captured the Ivy League Championship and made a splash in the NCAA tournament by upsetting Auburn.

Basketball by the Sea Camp offers a place for children from grades 5 to 12, ranging from beginners to advanced high school players. Ticotsky explained its unique approach, “We focus on skills work rather than just playing games the whole time, while still creating a fun atmosphere.” The emphasis on skill-building in a supportive environment has helped participants improve dramatically over the years.

Sherrod’s basketball journey is an inspiring story for many young players. “When I was a freshman in high school, I weighed 315 pounds and had never played organized basketball. I lost 100 pounds just from playing every day and getting into the gym.” His perseverance led him to play first for Yale University before embarking on a professional career in Italy, Finland, and Israel before transitioning into coaching. Sherrod shared his philosophy on practice: “It’s not about the makes and misses. If you focus on the quality, things start to align over time.”

Beyond the technical aspects of basketball, the camp fosters a strong sense of community. Ticotsky reflected on the universal appeal of the sport, noting, “It’s really become a global game, and that’s what I love about it.” The camp has drawn participants from various regions, including vacationers from the United States and even as far as Iceland.

Ticotsky and Sherrod both emphasized that basketball teaches important life lessons. Brandon shared advice from his father: “We never lose, we either win or we learn.” This mindset of resilience and growth reflects the values the camp aims to instill in its players, preparing them for both basketball and life challenges.

As the camp continues to thrive, it stands as a testament to the dedication of its founders and the community’s embrace of basketball. Ticotsky expressed hope that one day, local players would carry on the tradition, saying, “Hopefully, one of them will take over the camp from me and continue it from there.”