Pearl River Elks Host Annual Hoop Shoot Contest

Early Saturday morning, 16 kids participated in the annual Pearl River Elks Hoop Shoot Foul Shooting Contest.

Boys and girls were split up into three age groups, 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13, with the winners from each group qualifying for the regional competition in Ossining on Jan. 14.

Brother and sister Allison and Daniel Conti won their respective age groups and will be moving on. Last year, Allison, 11, participated in the contest and went all the way to the state finals, finishing third. This was Daniel's first year in the contest.

"I like basketball because it's always a competition," Allison Conti said.

She's been playing basketball since she was in kindergarten, and she now plays Catholic Youth Organization basketball. The sixth-grader at Felix Festa Middle School said she plans on going out for the middle school team next year when she's eligible.

Daniel Conti has been playing since just last year and is currently in second grade at Congers Elementary School.

Each contestant got five practice shots, then 10 shots and were given a break while others went. Then they came back out and shot 15 more, and the highest total from the 15 shots moved on. Daniel hit 13 and Allison sank 19.

Pearl River Elks President Hank Dudek said the organization has been putting on the contest for probably close to 50 years. Last year's contest has around 60 or so kids and was on a Friday night. He thinks having it on Saturday morning might've been the reason for the low turnout, because a lot of other kids activities take place Saturday morning as well.

Boys 12-13

• First: Jack Hallinan
• Second: Daniel Sullivan
• Third: Alan Hwang

Girls 12-13

• First: Laura Franchino
• Second: Christine Noone
• Third: Helen Smith

Boys 10-11

• First: Kevin Ranaghan
• Second: Liam Miller
• Third: Jack Fitzgerald

Girls 10-11

• First: Allison Conti

Boys 8-9

• First: Daniel Conti