Elk's Hoop Shoot: Carson City boy advances to national competition
The Elk’s National Foundation Hoop Shoot is a free throw contest held annually. The contest begins at the local lodge level. Children between the ages of 8 and 13 are invited to compete. Across the nation over a million children compete in this contest with the hope of making it all the way to the Springfield, Massachusetts to compete at the Basketball Hall of Fame and win the National Competition.
The Carson City Contest was held on Jan 3, 2015. Around 40 children competed to be one of the six with honor of representing Carson City at the District Contest in Reno. Those six children were Jordan Torres 12-13 boys, Thomas Burchett 10-11 Boys, Reese Torres 8-9 Boys, Reese MacKenzie 10-11 Girls, and Dayna Myrehn 8-9 Girls. However Jordan could not attend the District shoot so he stepped down and allowed our second place winner Dougie Hostler to attend.
From the District Contest Carson City's three boys Dougie Hostler, Thomas Burchett and Reese Torres advanced to represent the Elk's North District and Carson City Elk’s Lodge at the State Contest in Hawthorn. Again the Carson City boys shined Dougie Hostler first place boys 12-13, Thomas Burchett first place boys 10-11 and Reese Torres second place boys 8-9.
Dougie Hostler and Thomas Burchett advanced to represent the Great State of Nevada in the Elk's Region 7 Contest in Las Vegas. The Elk's Region 7 encompasses the California-Hawaii State Elk's Association, the Arizona State Elk's Association, The Utah State Elk's Association and The Nevada State Elk's Association. This is a tough competition as the competitors are the top shooters from their respective states and out of these competitors only six will win the honor of representing the Region in Springfield.
Thomas and Dougie worked hard both put in long hours of practice before the contest. Both arrived with winning on their minds. Neither knowing what to expect from the boys representing the other states. Both stepped to the line to do their best. Thomas left the competition as our Nevada State Champion 10-11 boys and 4th place in the competition. Dougie will advance in the contest as the Region 7 Champion 12-13 boys and will be representing Region 7, the State of Nevada, and Carson City in the National Hoop Shoot Contest.
Both of these boys represented our state with sportsmanship, integrity and honor, they are to be congratulated for a job well done.