in Elks Hoop Shoot competition
Trey Bateman, nine year old son of Cal and Melissa Bateman, and a student at Valley View Elementary School in Bonners Ferry, has been competing in the Elks National Hoop Shoot, a nationwide free throw program for youth ages 8 through 13.
Let's
clarify that--Trey has not been simply competing
in the free throw contest, he has been winning,
not only this year, but last year also.In a stellar performance last year, the first year he was eligible to compete as an eight year old, Trey won the 2014 District and North Idaho Elks free throw competitions. In last year's finals to become the Idaho state champion, he barely lost in an overtime shootout after tying for first place with 22 out of 25 free throws made.
This year's Elks District Free Throw contest was held in Sandpoint on January 10. In that contest, Trey outgunned eight other competitors, taking first place by sinking 20 out of 25 free throws. Winning that contest sent him to the North Idaho Regional contest held in Kellogg just this past Saturday. There, Trey added more hardware to his trophy collection by winning the North Idaho Regionals, sinking 22 of 25 free throws.
Next up for Trey: the tournament for the Idaho State Championship, which will be held February 14 at Snake River High School in Blackfoot, Idaho. There he will compete for a chance to become the Number One free throw shooter in the 8-9 age division in the state of Idaho.
The winner of the Idaho state competition will advance to the Western Regional competition in Vancouver, Washington, where he will face off against state champions from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. From there the winner travels across the country for the opportunity of a life time—a trip to the Hoop Shoot National Finals in Springfield, Massachusetts, with a chance to win the National Hoop Shoot championship.
Springfield, Massachusetts is the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. At the National competition there, one boy and one girl from each age group will win a national title and will have their names permanently inscribed at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The 2015 Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals will take place April 16-19.
Good luck Trey Bateman!