The Elks Hoop Shoot isn't just about sinking free throws. It's about building grit, confidence and determination, with the unique chance for kids to land in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"Gritty kids are determined hard workers," said Valerie Kissinger, Hoop Shoot lodge director for the Columbia-Middletown Lodge 1074. "Gritty kids become gritty adults with strong work ethics and goal-setting skills. ... The Hoop Shoot can offer similar life lessons as other sports programs, but what other program offers kids the chance to be in the Hall of Fame?"

The annual Columbia-Middletown Elks 1074 Hoop Shoot will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9, in the gym of Columbia High School, 901 Ironville Pike, Columbia. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the contest will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Youths ages 8 to 13 are invited to participate in the competition, which is divided into six divisions: girls and boys ages 8 and 9, 10 and 11 and 12 and 13.

Participants attempt 25 free-throw shots, and the highest scorers in each division advance to the next level. First-place winners from the local competition are eligible to proceed to the district competition on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Carlisle. The six first-place winners from districts have the opportunity to proceed through a state competition, a regional competition and then on to the national competition in Chicago on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

There is no charge to participate, and the Elks cover travel costs through each level, Kissinger said.

The local event doesn't happen for several weeks, providing lots of opportunity to participants to practice their foul shots before coming to the competition, she added.

Participants do not need to be the fastest, biggest or strongest athletes on the court to succeed, Kissinger said, noting that practice and precision are key to doing well. Grit and determination help too, she said, adding that when youths step up to the free throw line with the Elks, it will always be a level playing field.

In the last Hoop Shoot competition, Carrigan Price, daughter of Ryan and Michelle Price of Landisville, won the local Columbia-Middletown 1074 competition in the 8 to 9 age group and then proceeded to win the district, state, regional and national competition. With a score of 45 out of 50 shots, Carrigan won Nationals in Chicago, as well as the Getty Powell award (awarded to the girl and boy with the highest score in the national competition).

As a national winner, Carrigan attended the Elks state convention in Harrisburg; the Elks national convention in Kansas City, Mo.; and traveled to Springfield, Mass., earlier this month to have her name permanently inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"We are so extremely proud of the wonderful young athlete she is!" said Kissinger, who accompanied Carrigan to the national competition. "She is very respectful of her other athletes' feelings with lots of compassion for them."

Kissinger emphasized that participating in the Hoop Shoot offers youths much more than just a chance to shoot baskets.

"The Hoop Shoot uses something fun like basketball to teach kids about goal setting and hard work, developing grit in the process," she said, encouraging people to watch videos with commentary directly from past participants at http://bit.ly/4mXNLSQ. "These videos about grit, or griteos, are excellent examples of how the Hoop Shoot has developed grit in past national finalists. They are great to show to families, contest volunteers or anyone else who wants to learn what the Hoop Shoot does."

For more information, visit the Columbia-Middletown Elks #1074 Facebook page or email elks1074hoopshoot@gmail.com.