In early November, the Columbia-Middletown Elks 1074 lodge held its annual local Hoop Shoot foul shooting contest in the Park Elementary gymnasium in Columbia. Twenty-five shooters competed in six age groups: girls ages 8 and 9, 10 and 11 and 12 and 13, and boys ages 8 and 9, 10 and 11 and 12 and 13. The first-place winner in each age group was eligible to proceed to districts in McConnellsburg on Jan. 26, where two of the local winners won first place in their age groups.

Carrigan Price took first place in for girls ages 8 and 9, with a score of 21 out of 25 baskets, and Ace Brumbach earned first place in for boys ages 12 and 13 with a score of 23 out of 25 - the highest score of the day.

Carrigan and Ace will travel to the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center and Bellefonte Area High School to compete in the 2025 PA State Elks Hoop Shoot Championship on Saturday, March 1. Winners from the state competition will go on to regionals on Saturday, March 15, and then on to nationals on Saturday, April 26, in Chicago, where the six first-place winners in the national competition will have their names inscribed at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

For Carrigan, the daughter of Ryan and Michele Price of East Hempfield, participating in the Hoop Shoot provided an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone.

"The Hoop Shoot competition is about making foul shots, and I never really focused on shooting foul shots. I wanted to see how I would do," said the fourth-grader, who attends Landisville Intermediate Center and started playing organized basketball through Hempfield Youth Association last year. "You learn about shooting, passing and the rules, but we don't spend much time on foul shots and are not doing them in a game at my current age level."

To prepare for the Columbia contest, Carrigan practiced with her father at local parks, schools and gyms after school and on the weekends whenever they could.

She was happy with her performance at the previous Hoop Shoot events that helped her get this far in the competition.

"I thought it went well," she said. "I missed a couple of shots that I thought had a good chance, but they didn't go in. I am looking forward to doing better at states."

To prepare for states, she said she plans to keep doing what she's been doing: looking for opportunities to practice on a court and staying focused.

For Ace, participating in the Hoop Shoot was a natural fit.

"I love playing basketball, and I'm a good shooter," said the son of Angel and Alicia Brumbach of Lancaster. "I'm on the seventh-grade boys' basketball team for Hempfield, and we practice six days a week."

Ace, who attends Landisville Middle School, said he felt great about how well he did at the previous competitions, and he's preparing for states by continuing to practice shooting.

He said other kids should consider participating in the next local Hoop Shoot, which will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9.

"It's not as scary as it seems, and you could actually win," he shared.

Carrigan agreed with his sentiment, adding, "If you like to try new things, give it a chance. It has been a nice experience for me, and it has helped me get better and better at my foul shots."

Two other local students advanced to the district Hoop Shoot as well. Autumn Humphreville, daughter of Andrew and Laura Humphreville of Landisville, made 13 baskets to attain second place in her age group, and Cameron Steffan, son of Zach and Kacey Steffan of Lancaster, made 11 baskets and placed third in his age group.

For more information on the Elks Hoop Shoot program, visit www.elks.org/hoopshoot.