Hoop Shoot
The Elks Hoop Shoot is a free throw competition for boys and girls ages 8-13. You don’t have to be the fastest, biggest, or strongest athlete on the court to sink one free throw after another. Practice and precision are the name of the game. When you step up to the free throw line, it’s just you and the ball.
The Bellefonte Elks holds their annual hoop shoot contest in January at the Bald Eagle Area High School gymnasium. In 2025, 40 boys and girls came for the event! There was representation in each of the three age groups 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13. Contestants must be at least 8 and no older than 13 as of April 1st the year of the contest in order to participate. Boys and girls in the 8-to-9-year-old age-group shoot 4 feet in front of the regulation foul line. The 10-11 and 12-13 age groups will shoot from the foul line. Age will be determined by a birth certificate by the Hoop Shoot Director.
The first place winners advance to the District Shoot, which consists of winners from the Lodges in our District, the North Central District. Kids can only compete in one Lodge competition. The first place winners from the District shoot will move on to the State Shoot, which consists of winners from all the Districts in Pennsylvania. Those first place winners will advance to the Regional shoot, which consists of the State winners from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. And finally, the first place winners from the Regional Shoot will advance to the finals in Chicago!
We welcome and encourage all eligible kids to give the Hoop Shoot a shot. Flyers are sent to the schools and basketball organizations to advertise this event. If you know of any youth basketball organization that would like to participate in this event, please contact the Lodge. There is no charge to participate in this event. Please contact the Lodge if you have any questions.
