Makayla Long, 9, will represent Cortez and the state of Colorado next week in Denver.
The young free-throw ace sank 20 of 25 at the charity stripe to win the girls, age 8-9 division, state Elks Hoop Shoot competition in Salida last Saturday.
Long advanced to the Elks Hoops Shoot regional in Denver on March 10. She is only the second person from Cortez to make regionals. Tyra Pinnecoose made it in 2010.
Long, a third grader at Lighthouse Christian Academy, beat out five other competitors in her division at Saturdays statewide event. She held off defending state champion, Kacy Horton, by one point.
Longs road to Denver began on Dec. 3 when she won the local contest in Cortez. She won districts Jan. 21, which was also held in Cortez. Another state winner from the West District heading to regionals is Mackenzie Wells from Grand Junction in the age 12-13 girls category. She sank 20 of 25 baskets as well. High point shooters in both girls and boys contests shot 21 of 25.
The Cortez Elks Lodge congratulates and wishes Makayla, the daughter of Bryon and Suzanne Long, well. She will compete with shooters in her age category from Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming in the West Central Region-8 semifinals.
The regional compeition will be at Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch
If Long wins at regionals, she will advance to the National Hoop Shoot competition in Springfield, Mass. Names of the national winners will be inscribed on the Elks National Hoop Shoot plaque, on permanent display at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Youngsters from throughout the United States enter the Elks Hoop Shoot free throw contest at the local level. The boy and girl in each age group with the best scores advance through four tiers of competition to qualify for the National finals, which will be April 26-29, in Springfield.
