Elks Hoop Shoot
The 40th annual Elks Hoop Shoot free throw competition will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Cortez Middle School Gym. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and competition begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no entry fee. The Elks Hoop Shoot is open to all boys and girls in age categories 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. Contestants age groups will be determined by their ages as on April 1, 2012. Those entering should bring proof of birth date (e.g. birth certificate, baptismal or passport) for verification and assignment to the proper age group shooting category, thereby eliminating any disappointment that might arise on a technicality. Contestants under 8 or over 13 on April 1, will be ineligible to participate. Awards will be presented to first, second- and-third-place in each category.
Youngsters throughout the 50 states enter the National Free Throw Shooting Contest. Each participant has 25 shots at the hoop. The kid in each age group with the best score advance through four tiers of competition to qualify for the national finals, which will be held April 26-29, in Springfield, Mass. Local winners will compete against other contestants in the district event to be held in Cortez on Saturday, Jan. 21, and those winners will advance to the state event in Salida on Saturday, Feb. 25. Regionals are in Denver on Saturday, March 17, and then nationals follow. Nationals winners will be inscribed on the Elks National Hoop Shoot plaque, on permanent display in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. For more information, please call Gini Olson or Fred DeWitt at 882-4904.
Cortez Rec. Center youth basketball program
The city of Cortez Parks and Recreation department is now registering for third- and-fourth grade girls and boys youth basketball. Practices will begin Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 with first games beginning Saturday, Jan. 7. Season ends Sunday, Feb. 12. Cost to participate is $20, which includes a T-shirt. Registrations are being taken at the Cortez Recreation Center and will close Saturday, Dec. 24. Contact Joye McHenry at 564-4080 with any programming questions.