Elks Hoop Shoot champs crowned at the local level
THE CLARK Fork Valley Elks Hoop Shoot was held Nov. 11 in the Thompson Falls High School gym. First- and- second-place finishers received trophies, and the division winners qualified for the district competition Jan. 12 in Pablo. Pictured, front row from left, Hoop Shoot coordinator Mike Thilmony, Gabi Hannum, 1st, 10-11 girls; Callie Cano, 2nd, 10-11 girls; Hailey Lowe, 1st, 8-9 girls; Ava Lawyer, 2nd, 8-9 girls; Avery Burgess, 1st, 12-13 girls; Olivia Fitchett, 2nd, 12-13 girls; and Hoop Shoot volunteer and Elks Lodge member Don Manning; back row, Cooper Meredith, 2nd, 8-9 boys; Jay Beahan,…
Six Sanders and Mineral county youth advanced to the district level of the Elks National Hoop Shoot in January with first-place finishes at the Clark Fork Valley Elks Hoop Shoot held Sunday, Nov. 11 at Thompson Falls High School.
The event was sponsored by the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge.
Division winners for the girls were Hailey Lowe of Thompson Falls, 8- and 9-year-old group; Gabi Hannum of Thompson Falls, 10- and 11-year-old group; and Avery Burgess of Noxon, 12- and 13-year-old group.
Boys’ division winners were Jay Beahan of Trout Creek, 8- and 9-year-olds; Carson Toivenon of Superior, 10- and 11-year-olds; and Conor Toivenon, 12- and 13-year-olds.
Those six sharpshooters advance to the Elks National Hoop Shoot District competition Jan. 12 in Pablo, according to local hoop shoot coordinator Mike Thilmony. District winners advance to the state Elks Hoop Shoot in February, with the regional shoot to follow next March. The National Finals are held in Chicago, Ill., in April.
Finishing second at the local level were:
Girls — 8-9, Ava Lawyer, Plains; 10-11, Callie Cano, Noxon; and 12-13, Olivia Fitchett, Thompson Falls.
Boys — 8-9, Cooper Meredith, Plains; 10-11, Braedon Ferris, Thompson Falls; and 12-13, Aiden Currie, Noxon.
Finishes for the 17 contestants were determined by the total number of successful free throws from among 25 attempts.
All veterans who attended the Clark Fork Valley Elks Hoop Shoot were recognized, since the event was held on Veterans Day. There was a moment of silence for longtime Elks Lodge and Hoop Shoot volunteer Darrell Grimm, who passed away recently. Elks Lodge members and other community members assisted with the local shoot.