By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles Elks Lodge No. 1322 held its annual Hoop Shoot contest at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Saturday morning.
A field of 28 contestants representing several schools in the Niles area participated in the competition. Age divisions of 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13 athletes separated by gender participated in the free throw shooting contest.
The contest consists of 25 free throws for each competitor, shooting 10 shots in the first round, and 15 in the final round. If there is a tie, at that point, there is a five-shot shoot-off to determine first and second place.
To qualify for the Niles competition, the participants were selected through a preliminary "in -school" free-throw match, conducted through their own school's physical education program.
The Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program is a prestigious event. More than 13 million students participate each year.
Competitors advance through local, district, state, regional and national levels. One boy and one girl in each of the three age categories win a national title at the national finals, held in Springfield, Massachusetts. The top six national finalists' names are inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Winners and runners-up for this year were:
12-13 year-old boys
First place, Jackson Kamp, New Buffalo, 19/25; Second place, Colin Mead, St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School of Niles, 16/25
12-13 year-old girls
First place, Shelby Palen, Howard Elementary, Niles 9/25 (won shoot-off with 4/5); Second place Chloe Topolski, New Buffalo, 9/25
10-11 year-old boys
First place, Gabe Stokes, Eastside, Niles, 17-25; Second place,Elijah Owens, New Buffalo, 15/25
10-11 year-old girls
First place, Jaiden Rolen, Eastside, Niles, 8/25; Second place, Jazmin Brann, Ballard, Niles, 2/25
8-9 year-old boys
First place, Jared Purucker, Ballard, Niles,16/25; Second place, Hunter Janowiak, St. Mary's School of Niles, 10/16
8-9 year-old girls
First place, Jenny Walters, Howard Elementary, Niles 10/25; Second place, Sydnee Sughayer, Eastside, Niles, 7/25
Paul Leaver, Niles Elks Hoop Shoot Director, was assisted by a number of Niles Elks members and their family members at the event.
"I've been doing the Hoop Shoot for probably over 20 years. This is my third year for Niles, as chairman. It's just a fun program. We got a lot of great help from the Elks lodge members too," he remarked.
Elks members and family assisting included Elks Exalted Ruler, Tim Stuver; Vito Rondinelli; Phil Catalano; Bob Crocker; Ken Hoese; Wayne Lemanski; Chris Gessinger; Randy Shearer and his son, Kyler; and Jim Lewellen, along with his sons, Chris and Alex, and Steve Morrison.
Continuing, Leaver commented about the YMCA. "This is just an awesome facility. Hopefully we can continue to have the Hoop Shoot here every year."
Bret Hendrie, Executive Director of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, was extremely helpful in coordinating the use of the gymnasium for the contest.
"It's all about the kids. We are a brand new building and this is a great opportunity for the kids to come out and have some fun and compete; to help them to develop their skills in basketball. The "Y" is very happy to be a part of it," Hendrie stated, after the event.
Winners for the local competition will compete in the District Hoop Shoot, in January, at The Dow Center, on the campus of Hope College in Holland.