SULLIVAN COUNTY, REGION – The echo of bouncing basketballs filled the Liberty High School gymnasium Saturday morning as young players from Sullivan County and the surrounding region took their shot at advancing through the Elks National Hoop Shoot program. District winners are now preparing to compete at the South Regional level later this month.

Organized by age group and gender, the Elks National Hoop Shoot features divisions for both boys and girls beginning at ages 8 and 9 and continuing through ages 12 and 13. Competitors start at the local lodge level before advancing to district, regional, state, and ultimately national competition.

James Gerrard II, secretary to the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler of Monticello Elks Lodge No. 1544, explained that the program moves children through a structured progression designed to challenge them while building character.

“They started out through the local lodge, then they will advance to the district,” Gerrard said. “That one goes down to the region… after that, if they win in New York State, they go to the northeast competition.”

From there, top shooters may earn the opportunity to compete at the national finals in Chicago.

According to Gerrard, this year’s district competition hosted 33 participants, making it one of the larger district events in recent years. He noted that eight of the district’s 10 lodges held local-level competitions, allowing more youth to advance to the district round.

“This has been one of the bigger district competitions that we’ve had,” Gerrard said.

Participants represented several communities, including Saugerties, Liberty, Monticello and Greenwood Lake. As Gerrard put it, competitors came from “all over the place.” He said the district event brought together shooters from a wide geographic area within the East Central District, which includes Sullivan, Ulster and Orange counties.

Some competitors entered the event with significant experience. Gerrard noted that a three-time state champion had competed in years past, but did not participate this year.

Age divisions are determined by a participant’s age as of April 1 of the following year. Gerrard explained that if a child turns the next age just before that cutoff date, they must compete in the higher division.

District winners, like Liberty student, Camden Lake, will advance to the 2026 New York State South Regional Hoop Shoot, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at Liberty High School. According to information provided to the winners, registration will begin at 1 p.m., with competition starting at 2 p.m. An awards ceremony will immediately follow.

Liberty Lodge No. 1545 will host the regional competition and awards ceremony.

During opening remarks, Gerrard emphasized proper conduct and competition rules to competitors’ family members and spectators, including remaining quiet while shooters were at the free-throw line and the procedures for breaking ties. In the event of a tie, competitors return to the line, and the best score determines the winner.

Gerrard said the program’s impact extends beyond basketball.

“It’s character building,” he said.

The Elks National Hoop Shoot program is sponsored by the Elks National Foundation and is held annually across the country, with district competitions taking place statewide throughout New York during the winter season.