Last Stop on the Road to Springfield
This April, 72 Hoop Shoot finalists landed in Springfield, Massachusetts for the 42nd annual Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals. For some, it was their first experience competing at Nationals. For 26 National Finalists, it was another chance to get their names inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“I feel like a champion,” says Girls 12-13 finalist Jannell Soto, sponsored by Artesia, N.M., Lodge No. 1717. “Coming from a small town and traveling to Springfield makes it seem like anything is possible.”
The days before the contest were packed with fun—including a movie night, games in the Elks’ Kids Zone, and dinner and a scavenger hunt at the Hall of Fame. The morning of the big contest, the finalists emerged from breakfast to a cheering crowd of fans and family poised to send them off to the gym at Western New England University.
At the gym, finalists sunk free throw after free throw—1,519 in total. After an impressive display of basketball prowess, including multiple tense shoot-offs, six National Champions emerged. Each of these champions’ names are now permanently inscribed in the Hall of Fame
“Two years ago, Cole wrote down a goal of having his name in the Hall of Fame,” says Mat Pentelute, father of Boys 8-9 National Champion Cole, sponsored by Provo, Utah, Lodge No. 849. “With persistence and commitment, he endured failure and never gave up. Now his name is forever engraved in the Basketball Hall of Fame. As special as that is, it pales in comparison to the life lesson the Hoop Shoot has taught him.”
Celebration
All finalists celebrated at the Awards Banquet, during which the first- through third-place winners received trophies, all received plaques, and Kyla Jamison from Salem, Ohio, Lodge No. 305, and B.J. Burries from Pinal Mountain, Ariz., Lodge No. 2809, received the Getty Powell Award for best overall male and female scorer. B.J. also received the Emile Brady award for scoring a perfect 25 out of 25.
New this year, Elks National Foundation Director Jim O’Kelley presented the first Cam and Linda Cronk award to the team from the highest scoring region. The six finalists from Great Lakes Region 4—who in total hit 128 of their regulation 150 free throws for a percentage of 85.33—left with those medals.
Over Already
After the weekend, the celebration quickly turned back to practice. With a successful Hoop Shoot under their belts, eligible finalists prepare to compete against a new group of contestants during the 2014-15 Elks Hoop Shoot season. Each will toe the line hoping to punch their ticket to Springfield again this season. Lodge Hoop Shoot contests begin in September. Stay tuned!
Through the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program, the Elks National Foundation offers youth the opportunity to engage in healthy competition, connect with their families and community, and succeed both on and off the court. In 2014-15, the ENF allocated $825,160 to fund this program. For more information on the Hoop Shoot, visit www.elks.org/hoopshoot.