FROM STAFF REPORTS

Four local children were named state champions at the Elks State Hoop Shoot Competition held at the Bessemer Recreation Center on Saturday, Feb. 10.

The Elks Hoop Shoot program is a free throw shooting competition open to boys and girls, ages 8-13. Boys and girls compete separately in 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13 age groups.

Contestants compete in local contests and the winners advance to the individual Elks Lodge contests. From there, they advance through district contests up to the state competition. The state is divided into three districts – South, Central and North.

Contestants representing lodges in the Central District took four of the six state champion slots in the Elks State Hoop Shoot Competition. The contestants, all representing Pelham’s Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge No. 1738, were crowned state champions:

-8-9 Girls: Haley Gogan, a Pelham Ridge Elementary School student (daughter of Brandy and Kevin Gogan).
-10-11 Boys: Sam Lollar, a Leeds Elementary School student (son of Jennifer and Wayne Lollar of Leeds).
-10-11 Girls: Addison Dockery, a Mt. Laurel Elementary student (daughter of Kim and Wade Dockery of Mt Laurel).
-12-13 Girls: Laci Gogan, a Pelham Park Middle School student (daughter of Brandy and Kevin Gogan of Pelham).

These four students will advance to compete in the Elks Regional Hoop Shoot competition held in Valdosta, Georgia on March 17. They will be competing against state champions from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. The winners advance to the National Finals held in Chicago in April.