News From The Court
A Family Affair, Hoop Shoot Style
When you hear the name Alford, images of basketballs rippling through nets immediately bounce into the mind’s eye. The man responsible for those images is Indiana’s former “Mr. Basketball,” Steve Alford. Alford netted quite the list of awards and honors in his day, including NCAA champion, Olympic gold medalist, NBA player, and Elks National Hoop Shoot finalist.
Steve, the current head basketball coach at the University of Iowa, is not in the limelight this time around, however. His two sons, Kory and Bryce, have stolen the show from old dad, having just finished competing in the North Central Regional Elks Hoop Shoot Contest in Iowa City, Iowa.
Twenty-one years ago, an eight-year-old Steve Alford competed in the first Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest. He finished fourth, which upset him, but as time went by, he became more fond of the experience. He decided to tell his sons about the contest, and when they were old enough, he encouraged them to participate in the competition as well.
The Hoop Shoot Contest includes both boys and girls, and is divided into three age categories: 8- to 9 year-olds; 10- to 11 year-olds; and 12- to 13 year-olds. As soon as each son was of age, he began participating in the contest. Kory, now 11, has been in three Hoop Shoot competitions. For Bryce, now 9, the 2004 Hoop Shoot Contest was his second.
The boys knew what to expect this year, so they prepared for it by simulating the contest. Their dad took them to the gym as often as possible to shoot free throws. At the gym they shot at least 25 free throws each. They followed the Hoop Shoot format exactly by shooting 10 free throws, rotating shooters, and then shooting the remaining 15.
The best part of the Hoop Shoot contest for Steve is spending time with his family. “We go into the gym together and work on their shooting,” he says. “I chart them in different categories like ‘longest streak’ and ‘overall percentage’.” Free throws aren’t the only thing being taught in the gym. “I’m teaching them more than just how to shoot a free throw,” he says. “They are learning valuable lessons about being part of a family, such as supporting each other and encouraging one another to try their best.”
He hopes that the boys would agree that spending time with mom and dad and their sister is the best part of the contest, but he also realizes that the competition itself is a fun adventure. “They just love the nature of competing in sporting events,” he says. “They’ve met a lot of other kids over the past couple years who they have become friends with.”
Both boys have won the state level of the competition before, so this wasn’t their first regional appearance. Steve has remained consistent with his advice for both Kory and Bryce since the first level of the contest. “Don’t give up, even when you’re beat. Stay in there and keep fighting.”
Bryce proved that he was listening to his father’s advice when it came time for him to shoot at the regional competition. He was on his second round of shots, needing to make only 13 out of 15 to win and go on to nationals. The pressure was on, and Bryce stood up to the challenge. He made his first few shots, but then missed three in a row. It was over for him; he would not be crowned the winner of the 8- to 9 year-olds, and he still had nine shots left.
So what did he do? He nailed all of them. Even though the best he could do was second place, he didn’t falter and made the most of the situation. “It was highly unlike Bryce to miss three in a row, so I knew he was nervous,” Steve says, “but he stayed in there and didn’t give up.”
Kory’s Hoop Shoot experience, however, didn’t end in Iowa City. He sank 20 out of 25 free throws, better than any of the other 10- to 11 year-old boys. He won first place and will head to Springfield, Mass., in late April for the national competition. There, he will compete against 11 other boys for the National Hoop Shoot title. “I know Kory was definitely more nervous at the regional competition because he knew that if he won, he would be going on to nationals,” Steve says. “He stood strong and made it happen.”
Steve feels that the Hoop Shoot Contest prepares kids to perform under pressure, whether it be in sports or in life. “The kids are out there on their own, which happens so many times in life, and I think it’s a good experience to go through at a young age,” he says. “The lessons of staying strong and never giving up on yourself come out of the Hoop Shoot experience.”
Steve realizes the recognition that their family name brings, but this competition has been all about his sons. Just like any other family, the Alfords are excited to be going to Springfield for the National Hoop Shoot Finals. “We’ll definitely be there to support Kory,” he says.