FREE-THROW COMPETITION WINNERS NAMED.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER - Winners have been announced in the Elks Inland District Free Throw Hoop Shoot Contest sponsored by Lancaster Elks Lodge 1625 on Jan. 8 at New Vista Middle School.

Elks officials announced the winners as follows:

Boys, ages 8-9: Conner Romero of Pine Street Elementary School, sponsored by Bishop Elks Lodge 1603, first; and Rafael Nunn Jr. of Cimarron Elementary School, sponsored by Palmdale Elks Lodge 2027, second.

Girls, ages 8-9: Michelle Ramirez of Joshua School, sponsored by Lancaster Elks Lodge 1625, first; and Tahan D. John of Palmdale, sponsored by Palmdale Elks Lodge 2027, second.

Boys, ages 10-11: Dylan J. Alexander of Ocotillo Elementary School, sponsored by Palmdale Elks Lodge 2027, first; and Qui Nuj Da of Bishop Union Elementary School, sponsored by Bishop Elks Lodge 1603, second.

Girls, ages 10-11: Latriece Harris of Palmdale, sponsored by Palmdale Elks Lodge 2027, first; and Alexis Rogers, Monroe School, sponsored by Kern River Valley Elks Lodge 2358, second.

Boys, ages 12-13: Chris Hueregue of Monroe School, sponsored by Ridgecrest Elks Lodge 2358, first; and Eric Solano of Buena Vista School, sponsored by Palmdale Elks Lodge 2027, second.

Girls, ages 12-13: Melanise Chapman of Sacred Heart School, sponsored by Lancaster Elks Lodge 1625, first; and Sharra Ippolite of Buena Vista School, sponsored by Palmdale Elks Lodge 2027, second.

The contestants and their parents were treated to a luncheon.

The Lancaster lodge will sponsor the Southern California Elks Free Throw Hoop Shoot, to be held at the New Vista Middle School on Feb. 12. Competitors will come from San Diego, Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as Nevada and Utah.

The scores of the first-place winners will be integrated with those competing in the Northern California area and those first-place winners will vie in the regional competition to be held in Las Vegas.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks started the Free Throw Hoop Shoot in 1972 to provide a competitive basketball free-throw contest for more than 3 million young people nationwide.

The Elks Hoop Shoot is funded by the Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the BPO Elks. Participants included six winners from Lancaster Elks Lodge from the Dec. 11 local competition, as well as other competitors coming from the other 10 lodges within the Inland District.