Elks Hoop Shoot on Saturday at Frontier Middle School
Courtesy photo Participants from the 2015 Columbia Basin Elks Hoop Shoot gather for the final ceremonies. The 2016 Elks Hoop Shoot is Saturday at Frontier Middle School. Registration is 10 a.m.
MOSES LAKE — No matter where you go in the country, an Elks Lodge is right around the corner. The Elks Club has been doing good things for good people for as long as anybody can remember.
The annual Columbia Basin Elks Hoop Shoot has been a big attraction here in Moses Lake and this year’s event is coming up fast. The Hoop Shoot will be on Saturday at Frontier Middle School. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the contest starts at 11 a.m.
Winners will have a chance to advance to the 2017 Hoop Shoot National Finals on April 22, 2017 in Chicago.
“Our lodge has been doing the Shoot Hoop over 15 years,” said Jan Lindsey with the Columbia Basin Elks. “Last year we had over 30 kids participate. It’s a great thing for the kids and we always have plenty of volunteers come out. It’s a community thing and we’ve tried to promote it, so the kids come out and shoot. It’s a lot of fun for everybody involved.”
Over the past 20 years, Washington state has had its share of free-throw shooters win national championships. Brock Ravet, Ellensburg was the latest when he won the 10-11 boys national title in 2009-10 — making 24-of-25 free throws at the national competition. Isaac Bianchini of Sedro-Woolley won a 12-13 boys title in 2006-07, also making 24-of-25.
Renee Lucero from Camano Island claimed the 8-9 girls championship in 2002-03 with a 22-of-25 effort. And 20 years ago, Lance Den Boer, Sunnyside made 25-of-25 to win the 10-11 boys title in 1995-96.
Like Punt, Pass, and Kick, the Elks Club Hoop Shoot promotes, good sportsmanship on a national scale.
The contestants who make the most free throws out of 25 shots in each age group advance to the next level of competition. The district competition is in Moses Lake later in January.
Winners of the district level advance to the state competition in February. There is a regional competition to determine contestants for the national Hoop Shoot in Chicago.
“The top shooter in each age group goes on to the districts,” Lindsey said. “The top girls and boys, then go on to the state competition in March.
“The regionals includes contestants from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Washington. The top people compete from that to go to Chicago for the nationals.”
It all starts at the local level. Registration is at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Frontier Middle School. The competition will begin at 11 a.m.
Rodney Harwood can be reached via email at businessag@columbiabasinherald.com.