Nashua's Lexi McGuire captured the Regional title and competed in the National Elks Hoop Shoot Finals in Chicago last spring. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — The Nashua Lodge of Elks 720 Youth Activities Committee will be hosting the 52nd Annual 2023 Elks National “Hoop Shoot” Free Throw Contest on Saturday morning, Dec 2 at the Elm Street Middle School’s Chestnut Street Gymnasium.

The event begins with registration promptly at 9 a.m. with the contest starting at 10 a.m. There is no charge to compete.

The competition is open to all interested girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 13. A youth’s age on April 1, 2024 establishes the age category. Six age division winners will be chosen with trophies going to the top three finishers in each age group.

Contestants shoot 25 free throws for score and must wear sneakers or tennis shoes to compete. T-Shirts, shorts or basketball uniforms are preferred but optional. There’s local, then district, state, regional and ultimately national competition for those fortunate enough to advance.

The Nashua area has produced free throw champions over the past 45 years with 12 going all the way to the Elks National “Hoop Shoot” Free Throw Finals — most recently 2023 New England Regional Champion, Lexi McGuire of Nashua.

Hudson’s Caleb Donnelly was the first Greater Nashua Elks Hoop Shoot Champion to win the Elks National Hoop Shoot Championship in 2006.

Donnelly’s name is now inscribed in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

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