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(Contributed Photo/Elks Lodge) Five young athletes from Breckenridge have earned the chance to compete at the district level Elks Hoop Shoot after advancing from the local contest held Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Breckenridge ISD Athletic and Fine Arts Center.
Five young athletes from Breckenridge have earned the chance to compete at the district level Elks Hoop Shoot after advancing from the local contest held at the Breckenridge ISD Athletic and Fine Arts Center.
The event organized by Breckenridge Elks Lodge No. 1480 was held Sunday, Jan. 4. The annual free throw competition is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 13, with participants grouped into the 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13 divisions.
The first place finishers who will move on to the district Hoop Shoot Saturday, Jan. 17 in Arlington were Britta Miller of Girls 8-9, Miles Morehart of Boys 8-9, Jemma Lancaster of Girls 10-11, Richard Zamora of Boys 10-11 and Bostyn Navarro of Boys 12-13.
The local lodge will cover gas expenses for families traveling to the next round.
Medals were awarded to the top two in each division. Second place finishers were Elsie Freeman (Girls 8-9), Marco Martinez (Boys 8-9), Millie Walling (Girls 10-11), Case Duran (Boys 10-11) and Pate Gill (Boys 12-13).
District winners will advance to the state competition in Carrollton taking place Saturday, Feb. 21, followed by the regional contest Saturday, March 14 in Dallas. The national finals are scheduled for Saturday, April 18 in Chicago. All contests beyond district require overnight travel, and competitors and their parents will attend as guests of the Elks.
At the national level, six champions – one boy and one girl from each age group – will be selected. Each national winner receives a trophy and has their name added to a permanent plaque at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. The top overall boy and girl earn the Getty Powell Award, named in honor of the Hoop Shoot’s first national director.
Breckenridge had a strong showing last year as well. Millie Walling won the Girls 8-9 division at district and went on to claim the state title before finishing third at regionals.
The Elks Hoop Shoot program aims to give young athletes an opportunity to compete in a supportive, age-appropriate environment that helps build confidence and future success.
Other local participants for this year who were not top two finishers were Camden Walling, Charlotte Cawley, Trey Duran, Noah Crabtree, Kaidyn Milam, Mason Martinez, Layton Luna, Davis Morehart, Jackson Morehart, Drake Forbes, Cooper Walling and Kaelem Hinson.
