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Results From the State Hoop Shoot Finals


Josh Reinertson, son of Paul and Carolyn Reinertson of Gibbon and representing the Kearney Elks Lodge, captured his fourth state championship at the Nebraska Elks Association state finals held at Hasting College on Saturday, January 29th.

Josh previously won state championships in 2000, 2002, and 2003. Josh, a seventh grader at the Gibbon Public Schools, won in the boys 12-13 yr old age group.   Josh's brother, Rylee a third grader who shot in the boys 8-9 year old division, also captured a state championship.  Rylee made 23 of 25 foul tries while Josh hit 24 of his 25 foul tries. By virtue of making 24 free throws, Josh had the highest boy's score and won the Nebraska Elks President's Award for Boys.

Both boys will advance to the Elks Hoop Shoot Regional Finals in Denver on March 5th along with Austin Anderson of Grand Island who represented the Grand Island Elks Lodge.  Austin is the son of Tammie and Bill Anderson and is a fourth grader in the Cedar Hollow School. Austin won his award in the boy's 10-11 yr old division after an exciting playoff with Brady Barrett of Wood River, shooting for the Hastings Elks Lodge, and Keegan Hansen of Scottsbluff, shooting for the Scottsbluff Elks Lodge.  All three boys made 21 of 25 foul tries on the first go-around. Anderson and Barrett advanced to a second go-around by making all 5 of their play-off shots, Hansen did not.  Anderson again made 5 for 5 in the second playoff to win the title.

Advancing to the Regional Finals in the girl's divisions were Alyssa Stankowski in the 12-13 yr olds; Jade Cunninham in the 10-11 yr olds; and Danea' Ray in the 8-9 yr old division.  Alyssa, daughter of Stan and Kelli Stankoski of Genoa, made 18 of 25 shots but had to beat Bethany Riener of Palisade in a five shot playoff for the title.  Alyssa is an eighth grader at the Twin River Public Schools and was shooting for the Columbus Elks Lodge.  Bethany was shooting for the McCook Elks Lodge.  Alyssa also won the Nebraska Elks Presidents Award for top girls shooter after a playoff with 8-9 yr old champion Danea' Ray of Chadron. 

Danea' Ray, daughter of Ross and Dawn Ray of Chadron, made 18 of 25 shots to advance to the Regional finals.  Danea' is a third grade all-around athlete at the East Ward Elementary School and just fell one shot short of winning the President's Award for top girl shooter.

Jade Cunningham, daughter of Patti and Toby Cunningham of Laurel, was the final qualifier for a trip to Denver and the Regional Finals.  Jade is a fifth grade all -around athlete and "A" student at the Laurel-Concord Elementary School.

Other shooters who earned trophies were the following:

8-9 yr old girls                                       boys
2. Jaycee Bradley, Tilden, Norfolk Elks      Bronson Pahl, Creighton, Norfolk Elks
3. Shania Nilson, Springview,                   Braedon Root, GI 
     Ainsworth Elks                                    Grand Isl.Elks

10-11 yr old girls                                    boys
2. Lauren Rosenquist, Hastings,               Brady Barrett, Wood River  
     Hastings Elks                                    Hastings Elks
3. Jacee Kershaw, Culbertson,                Keegan Hansen, Scottsbluff,
     McCook Elks                                     Scottsbluff Elks

12-13 yr old girls                                    boys
2. Bethany Riener, Palisade, McCook     Trey Moore, North Pl, N.P.
3. Abby Welniak, Elyria, Ord Elks           Jordan Collidge, Norfolk Norfolk Elks

After the competition, an Awards Luncheon was held at the Hastings Elks Lodge, and trophies were awarded to the top three finishers in the six gender/age divisions.  The awards were made by Bill Foster of Grand Island who completed his seventh and last year as the Nebraska Elks Association Hoop Shoot Director.

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