The Santa Monica Elks recently held its annual “Hoop Shoot” contest, consisting of 25 shots from the free throw line and more than 300 girls and 1,600 boys took part. Chairman Grady Sain said more than 30 Elks and 100 others spent nearly 900 hours hosting the contests. Aniese Palmore and Isaac Shanley won the 8-and 9-year-old category, both with scores of 15. In the 10-and 11-year-old category, Crystal Bautista won with a score of 10, and Zachary McMillan won with a score of 16. Jennie Harding and Ben Lushing won in the 12-and 13-year-old category, both with scores of 22.
The shooters will compete at the district level, which will include competitors from Culver City, Gardena, Redondo Beach, Torrance and Westchester. The contest will be held Jan. 24 at the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club.
The levels of competition are local, district, state, regional and national. At each level, scholarship money and trophies are awarded. The national winner receives a $60,000 scholarship.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 13, 2004. Read the original PDF.