The drive to Plymouth was well worth it for Nashua’s Heather Bridge.

Hitting 15 of her 25 shots from the free throw line, the Gate City 10 year old won the 10-11 age division in the 2011 New Hampshire State Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Championship at Plymouth State University last Sunday morning. She beat out the Southeast, Northeast and Northwest District Champions in this third level of the Elks Hoop Shoot competition.

Three other Nashua Elks champions, Tilak Patel, Michael Kernan and Garrett Lambert finished as runner-up – Patel losing a tie-breaker to Matthew Doyle of Dover and Garrett Lambert losing to champion Luke McCusker, also of Dover. Nashuan Micheal Kernan’s 21 of 25 was no match against the hottest hand in the entire competition, Ethan Ellingwood of Littleton, who sunk 24 of 25 free throws, missing on his 25th shot for a perfect day.

Nashua’s other two champions also did well. Amanda Torres finished third in her age division to champion Miranda Judd of Lebanon, while Hailey Sullivan finished fourth to champion Kiley Madison of Plymouth.

Following the awarding of the six Division Championship trophies, the coveted Harry Mullen Memorial “Sharpshooter” trophy for boys was presented to 13-year-old Ellingwood. The Fred Rheault Memorial “Sharpshooter” trophy for girls was presented to 13-year-old Judd, who dropped in 19 free throws to top all the girl divisions.

New Hampshire’s six state champions will now compete in Portland, Maine on March 24, in the Regional Hoop Shoot, the fourth level of competition, against their counterparts from the other five New England States and New York State. The Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals will take place in Springfield, Mass. in April with the National winners having their names inscribed in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

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