The 47th annual Elks Hoop Shoots Alameda city finals contest was held Friday, Jan. 10, at the Alameda Point Gym. The hoop shoots contest consists of a free -throw shooting competition where each contestant has 25 opportunities to shoot a basketball into the hoop. The contestants that participated in the city finals must live in Alameda or attend an Alameda school. The participants also had to qualify by winning the initial round tournament played at various parks throughout the city. 

The Hoops Shoots contest is broken into six divisions. The divisions are separated by age and gender. There are three divisions for both boys and girls. The ages of the divisions are eight- and nine-year olds, 10- and 11-year olds and 12- and 13-year olds.

Adam Meyers won the boys’ eight- to nine-year-old division. He beat out second-place finisher Russell Dulay for the top sport. The boys’ 10- to 11-year-old bracket was won by Will Peerenboom. He made more free throws than William Le Khamnouane and Roman Funes to win the competition. Matthew Garcia won the boys’ 12- to 13-year-old division. He finished ahead of Jack Omarra and Marco Auyang who finished second and third, respectively.

Jaide Sen Su won the girls’ eight- to nine-year-old division. Arilee Henriquez came in second place, while Tenaya Aguilera finished in third. Desiree Shabolo was victorious in the girls’ 10- to 11-year-old bracket. She managed to outshoot Marley Williams and Helena Beneam, who finished second and third, respectively. Surina Castro won the girls’ 12- to 13-year-old bracket. 

The first-place city finals winners from each age and gender division were invited to represent Alameda in the Bay District Contest on Sunday, Jan. 12, at James Logan High School in Union City.

The Alameda section of the Elks Hoop Shoots was conducted by the Alameda Recreation and Park Department (ARPD) and sponsored locally by the Alameda Elks Lodge No. 1015. More than three million children nationwide compete in the Elks Hoops Shoots contest.

For more information on the contest and the Bay District round, contact Recreation Supervisor Dennis McDaniels at dmcdaniels@alamedaca.gov or call 523-4071.