Bakersfield, Gainesville students participate in 2018 Elks Hoop Shoot

Elks Lodge 1714 in Mountain Home, Arkansas, is again sponsoring the 46th annual Elks Hoop Shoot, the national free throw shooting contest for children age 8 through 13. Participating schools include Gainesville and Bakersfield in Ozark County as well as Arkansas schools in Mountain Home, Norfork, Flippin, Cotter, Calico Rock and Yellville. 

Local school competitions are being held through January; top shooters from those events will compete in the area finals beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Mountain Home Junior High School gym.

 Youngsters interested in participating should contact their coach or PE teacher immediately to sign up. Last year, trophies were awarded to the first and second place winners in each age category for boys and girls. Gainesville students who won top rankings in the area finals in 2017 included Harmon Johns, first place in the boys age 10-11 category; Sailor Anderson, first place, girls 10-11; Landry Jenkins, first place, boys 12-13; Hannah Evans, second place, girls 12-13; Andrew Dalton, second place boys 12-13.

Bo Bean of Bakersfield placed second in the boys 10-11 bracket. 

More than 3 million youngsters from throughout the country entered last year’s competition, according to an Elks news release. Each contestant takes 25 shots. The boy and girl in each age group with the best scores advance through four tiers of competition to qualify for the national finals in Chicago, Illinois. Area finalist will compete against other contestants in the state event in Hot Springs, Arkansas in February.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423