Each year the Elks National Foundation holds their annual Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest where kids from all over the United States have the opportunity to advance round-by-round through the tournament-style competition, with the ultimate goal of eventually making it to the national championship held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, home to the WNBA Champion Chicago Sky and DePaul University.
The district Hoop Shoot was hosted by the Plant City Elks Lodge at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center on Saturday. The annual free throw contest features both male and female participants in age groups ranging from eight to 13 years of age.
Plant City competed against youth from four other lodges and swept first place in all five divisions. The competitors shoot free throws to see who can make the most out of 25.
The five age group winners will move on to the state regional competition in Port Orange on January 27, competing against four other districts to see who will advance to the state competition in Umatilla, at the Florida State Elk’s Youth Ranch. From there winners will move on to the regionals in Valdosta, GA, and potentially the national competition in Chicago, IL. The winners of the national competition will have their names digitally displayed in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts.
“Plant City Elks Lodge 1727 is proud to support the five contestants representing us. By winning the district competition, they are all now one step closer to becoming national champions,” said George Domedion, Exalted Ruler and District Hoop Shoot Chairman. “Good luck to all of them!”
The youth representing Plant City are:
-Kyus Gaddis, 8 to 9 year old boys
-Addison Desmarais, 12 to 13 year old girls
-Kaden Montgomery, 12 to 13 year old boys
-Baylor Mueller, 8 to 9 year old girls
-Jaxon Story, 10 to 11 year old boys
Good luck from all of Plant City!