PIERRE, S.D. – Five local kids were winners at the Elks Lodge No. 1953 Hoop Shoot at the St. Joseph’s School gym on Sunday evening. Nathan Nelson, Ramsey Magnuson, Izabelle Clark, Briley Mentele, and Hudson Hackett each won their age group contest and advance to the State Hoop Shoot to be held February 7 in Pierre.
Nathan Nelson and Brecken Witte each hit 21 of 25 free throws, the most of any competitor in any division. Unfortunately, both were competing in the 8–9-year-old boys’ division. Nelson hit all five of his tiebreaker shots to take first place. Chase Collins finished third.
Ramsey Magnuson won the 8–9-year-old girls’ division hitting 20 of her 25 attempts. Ashton Mentele came in second place. Izabelle Clark won the 10-11 girls’ division sinking eight of her shots and was followed by Ruby Webb with seven makes.
Briley Mentele, who hit 19 free throws, edged out Grayson Seiner with 18 makes. Kayson Stampe hit 13 shots to take third place in the 10–11-year-old-boys’ group.
Hudson Hackett took first in the oldest boys’ competition with 19 made. Beckett Larson took second place with 17 shots. The competition ended with a tiebreaker shoot off between Callum Brunner and Cannon Witte, who each had 15 of 25 made free throws. Brunner hit four-of-five tiebreaker shots to take third place.
In total, 17 local kids participated in the free, annual free-throw contest. The lodge contest is the first step in advancing the April national championships in Chicago. The winners of the contest among winners from all South Dakota lodges on February 7 at St. Joseph’s School gym will compete at the regionals in Rapid City in March against the Montana and North Dakota state winners.
The Hoop Shoot is a signature kids program sponsored by the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, national fraternal organization. For more information about the Hoop Shoot or Elks Lodge No. 1953, please visit elks.org.
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