(Editor’s note: Elks Hoop Shoot media release)
DILLON — On Jan. 6, three girls and three boys, ages 8-13, were crowned Champions at the Elks South District “Hoop Shoot”® free throw contest, which took place at Straugh Gymnasium on the Montana Western campus in Dillon.
First- and second-place trophies were awarded to each boy and girl in three categories: ages 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. The contestants who participated at the District Hoop Shoot Contest were crowned Champions at their local Lodge Contest within the Montana South District, comprised of Anaconda #239, Butte #240, Deer Lodge #1737, Dillon #1554 and Helena #193.
Parker Layng of Boulder won the girls 8-9 division, Sara Spring of Deer Lodge won the girls 10-11 division and MacKenzie Layng of Boulder won the girls 12-13 division. Cade Kelly of Butte (8-9 division), Kyler Engellant of Dillon (10-11 division) and Bo Kelley of Ennis (12-13 division) were the boys winners.
The three first-place boys and girls in age categories 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13 will advance to the Montana State Contest at Park County High School in Livingston on Feb. 3. They will compete against the District Champions from the other four Montana districts. With continued success, the six Montana State Champions will advance to the Regional Contest in Rapid City, S.D. on March 10 and the National Finals in Chicago on April 21. The names of all the national winners are engraved on plaques at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
This program is totally sponsored by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A. It is endorsed by hundreds of school systems around the country. The Elks fund the program primarily through its National Foundation and the support of the local lodges and state associations.
The Elks “Hoop Shoot”®, began as a local program by Corvallis Oregon Elks in 1946, is in its 47th year of national competition. Over three million boys and girls are expected to participate this year. In the past, Montana has crowned several National Champions.
