Young Shooters Crowned Champions at Elks South District Hoop Shoot in Dillon

DILLON, Mont. — January 3, 2026 — Six young athletes — three girls and three boys ranging in age from 8 to 13 — were crowned champions Saturday at the Elks South District Hoop Shoot free throw contest, held at Straugh Gymnasium on the campus of Montana Western.

First- and second-place trophies were awarded to both boys and girls in three age divisions: 8–9, 10–11, and 12–13. All participants earned their place at the district competition by winning their respective local lodge contests within the Montana South District, which includes Anaconda Elks Lodge #239, Butte Elks Lodge #240, Deer Lodge Elks Lodge #1737, and Dillon Elks Lodge #1554.

The three first-place boys and three first-place girls from Saturday’s competition will now advance to the Montana State Hoop Shoot Contest, scheduled for February 14 at Park County High School in Livingston. There, they will face champions from the other four Elks districts across the state.

From the state level, competitors who continue to advance will move on to the regional contest in Rapid City on March 7, followed by the national finals in Chicago on April 18. National champions earn the distinction of having their names digitally displayed at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Hoop Shoot program is fully sponsored by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A. and is endorsed by hundreds of school systems nationwide. Funding for the program comes primarily through the Elks National Foundation, along with support from local lodges and state associations.

Originally launched as a local initiative by the Corvallis, Oregon Elks in 1946, the Elks Hoop Shoot has grown into a nationally recognized youth program and is now in its 54th year of national competition. Over the years, Montana has produced several national champions, continuing the state’s strong tradition in the program.