•December 27, 2023•

The Charleston Elks #623 will be hosting their annual National Hoop Shoot on Saturday, January 13 at the Charleston High School gym, located at Route 130 and Lincoln Avenue. Registration will begin at 12:30 pm with competition starting at 1:00 pm. The National contest in it’s 52nd year is a free throw competition for age groups 8-13 years of age. There are three girls divisions and three boys divisions. They will shoot 25 free throws for the best score. Winners will advance to District in Champaign and possibly on to state, Iowa Regionals and the Chicago National Finals in April. Competing age groups are 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, girls and boys each. Ages will be based on how old they are on April 1, 2024. The Charleston Elks area includes boys and girls from Oakland, Mattoon, Ashmore, Kansas, Casey, Greenup, Toledo, Sullivan, Windsor-Gays, Arcola, Arthur, Tuscola, Charleston, Newman and Hume. The event is free and any travel expenses past local shoot will be covered by The Elks National Foundation. In 2023, over 240,000 girls and boys participated in the National Hoop Shoot. For further information contact Rod Franklin at 217-549-6376.