State win gives guard last shot at national Hoop Shoot1 min read

By
George Werner
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Seventh-grader Mary Westervelt, a guard for the Big Park Community School girls basketball team, will advance to the National Hoop Shoot competition in Springfield, Mass., if she hits more free throws than four other 12- to 13-year-old contestants Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Western Regional Hoop Shoot. Each player tries to make as many free throws as possible out of 25 at the Las Vegas shoot, which is sponsored by the Elks Lodge.
Zack Garcia/Larson Newspapers

Last call: All aboard the Junk Food Express.

After five years of watching herself and her sister Liza fall a couple of free throws short of making the National Elks Hoop Shoot Finals, Big Park Community School seventh-grader Mary Westervelt will board a Las Vegas-bound bus chartered by the state Elks lodges — and loaded with garbage bags full of candy and other junk food — for a final shot Saturday, Feb. 21, at a trip to Springfield, Mass.

At the Feb. 7 state hoop shoot in Apache Junction, Westervelt joined younger state representatives at the West Region 7 Hoop Shoot Semifinal by sinking 19 free throws out of 25 attempts.

“It wasn’t close at all, really,” Westervelt said. “I was actually really surprised, because usually, the previous times I’ve gone and watched Liza, they’re always really good.”

If she can out-shoot four other finalists from California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah, Westervelt would advance to nationals Thursday, April 16.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Feb. 18, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.

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George Werner

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