by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 will host the New York State North Central District Elks No. 6240 Hoop Shoot Competition at Gouverneur High School Main Gymnasium on Saturday, January 4, 9 a.m. There is no admission charge, and the public is welcome to attend this event.
The New York State Elks North Central District No. 6240 consists of eight Elks Lodges – Watertown Elks Lodge No. 496, Ogdensburg Elks Lodge No. 772, Malone Elks Lodge No. 1303, Lowville Elks Lodge No. 1605, Massena Elks Lodge No 1702, Carthage Elks Lodge No. 1762, Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, and Potsdam Elks Lodge No. 2074. Each lodge has previously held its lodge-level Hoop Shoot event. The winners in each age category will compete this Saturday in the district-level contest with the chance for advancement.
Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall the following results from the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 contest, which was held on Saturday, December 7.
Roderick Pryce, Past Exalted Ruler of the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, welcomed the participants and their families to the annual free throw contest, and detailed the rules. All contestants had to be at least 8 years old and no older than 13 as of April 1, 2020. They could compete in one of the six divisions: Boys (ages 8-9), Girls (ages 8-9), Boys (ages 10-11), Girls (ages 10-11), Boys (ages 12-13), and Girls (ages 12-13).
As stated in the Elks National Foundation Hoop Shoot playbook, each contestant, in order of their draw, were allowed up to five warm-up shots (if desired) and then, had the opportunity to shoot 10 shots for score. The designated line judges then informed the contestant and the scorers that the contestant is shooting for score. Upon completing their warmup shots and 10 shots for score, the contestant sat on a chair until the remaining contestants have completed their warmups and 10 shots. After the other contestants finished shooting, they were then allowed 15 shots to complete their 25 shots for score.
The winners were announced as follows:
In the 8-9 Girls Division, the first-place trophy was presented to Ragean Larsen, and the runner-up trophy to Reese Larsen. Other participants included Alice Idzenga, Olivia Salazar, Taylor Guthrie, and Kaylee Crawn. All contestants received certificates of participation.
In the 10-11 Girls Division, the first-place trophy was presented to Arianna Wood, and the runner-up trophy was presented to Alexis Crawn. Both participants received certificates of participation.
In the 10-11 Boys Division, the first-place trophy was presented to Parker Felt, and the runner-up trophy was presented to Conner Platt. Also participating was Carter Simmons. All contestants received certificates of participation.
In the 12-13 Boys Division, the first-place trophy was presented to Tucker Mussaw, and the runner-up trophy was presented to Kaleb Platt. Both participants received certificates of participations.
If the first-place winner in a certain age category cannot participate at the district-level contest, the second-place winner will be called. And in the case that the second-place winner cannot participate, the third-place winner will be called… and so on down the list. In this case, the record-keeping by the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 will be put to good use in advance of the competition.
Did you know? The Elks National Foundation’s Hoop Shoot contest got its start in 1946. While observing a group of boys playing basketball, the late-Past National President Frank Hise noticed that the smaller kids had a hard time keeping up with the others. To level this imbalance, he organized a free-throw contest where every kid could participate. On that day, the Elks Hoop Shoot was born.
But, it wasn’t until 1972 that the program held its first national finals in Kansas City, Mo. 1974 was big year for the program. The Elks National Foundation started funding the program. Gerald (Getty) Powell was named as the program’s first national director. One of his first orders of business was to allow girls to fully compete in the contest. In 1975, the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., offered the program the opportunity to display a plaque inscribed with the names of all the national champions. The plaque has been displayed there ever since.
In 1979, Powell retired, and Emile Brady became the second national director of the program. In 1980, the national finals moved to Indianapolis. They remained in Indy through 1995, except for 1991, when they were held in Springfield in conjunction with the Hall of Fame’s celebration of basketball’s centennial. In 1996, the finals moved back to Springfield, where they remained until 2015. In 2016, the Hoop Shoot National Finals were moved to Chicago—the home of the Elks – where they are now held. Since 2012, the Elks National Foundation both funds and runs the program.
The 2020 Hoop Shoot National Finals will take place on April 18, 2020 in Chicago.
Don’t miss your opportunity to witness the next level of competition in the local area – at the Gouverneur High School main gymnasium, this Saturday, January 4, starting at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend this event. There is no charge to attend. An awards celebration for participants and their families will follow at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge, 1419 U.S. Highway 11, Gouverneur. For more info, call (315) 287-1630.
