SCARBOROUGH – Having already tasted glory in local, district, and state competitions, Cassidy Pelletier and Carmen Bragg both captured additional first-place finishes on Saturday, March 28. Both girls wowed the crowds at the Elks “Hoop Shoot” New England Regional Championship.
Pelletier, the 9-year-old daughter of Cary & Bonnie Pelletier, demonstrated an accuracy from the penalty line well beyond her years and brought honors to her hometown of Presque Isle. Representing Presque Isle No. 1954, Pelletier, a student at Ashland Central, sank 23 out of 25 free throws in the 8 to 9-year-old girls division, making her a true standout in the field of more than 3 million boys and girls, ages 8-13, who have participated in the contest since last fall.
Bragg is the 12-year-old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Mark Bragg. Also representing Presque Isle No. 1954, Bragg, a student at Washburn, sank 21 out of 25 free throws in the 12- to 13-year-old Girls division. Now, Pelletier and Bragg will travel with their parents, courtesy of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, to Springfield, Massachusetts—the birthplace of basketball—to be among the 72 top youngsters vying for the chance to claim one of six national trophies awarded at the Elks “Hoop Shoot” National Free Throw Contest, April 24-27. A great showing in the national championship will not only earn Pelletier and Bragg a place in Elks “Hoop Shoot” history, but also land their names on a plaque in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Now in its 37th year, the Elks “Hoop Shoot” Free Throw Contest has seen more than 104 million participants since its inception.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a patriotic and philanthropic fraternal organization with nearly 1-million members in more than 2,100 communities.
Photos courtesy of MEA Public Relations
SHOTS GALORE – Pelletier, left, and Bragg, right, will be in Massachusetts April 24-27 to compete in the national competition.
