Shooting for the stars

Local Hoop Shooters compete in state meet at Livingston

 

Courtesy photo

Aubrey Baxter

Three local youths recently won their way to the Montana State Hoop Shoot in Livingston, but just getting that far required the winning of three previous shoots this winter.

Aubrey Baxter of Thompson Falls, Gabby Hannum of Trout Creek and Carson Toivonen of Superior, all under the auspices of the local Clark Fork Elks Lodge No. 2757, won previous shoots at the school, lodge and district level to qualify for the State Hoop Shoot Feb. 3.

In Livingston, Toivonen won third place in the boys 8-9 age class, Baxter placed third among 8-9 year old girls and Hannum was fourth in the girls 10-11 division. All three had earned their way to the State Shoot, by first winning at their local school level, then by winning first place in their class at the Clark Fork Elks Lodge Shoot in Thompson Falls, and then by again winning first in the recent District Shoot in Polson.

Local Elks representative Mike Thilmony said local Lodge No. 2757 represents the communities of Thompson Falls, Plains, Superior, Noxon and Hot Springs, at which level this year's three shooting stars all started at their local schools.

Montana is divided into five areas – the north, south, east, west and central – for representation into the Montana State finals shoot, and advancing to the state level requires taking first place in the District Shoot, which Hannum, Baxter and Toivonen all did in Polson.

If any of the Lodge No. 2757 shooters had won in Livingston, they would be making plans for the Northwest Central Regional Hoop Shoot, which involves all Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota competitors. Winners of the regional shoots across the country then advance on to the National Finals in Chicago, April 21 in the Windy City.

Courtesy photo

Carson Toivonen

In Livingston, Baxter made 4 of 10 in the first round and 11 of 15 in the second to finish with a final score of 15. She then made 3 of 5 in a Shoot Out for second place, but the girl she was tied with made 4 of 5 to edge her out.

Toivonen made good on 8 of 10 in the first round and 10 of 15 in the second to finish with a final score of 18 for third place in his age class.

Hannum converted 4 of 10 shots in the first round and 9 of 15 in the next round to add up a final score of 13 in her division.

Aubrey Baxter's older sister Megan was this area's most successful participant in the program in recent years, advancing all the way to the Regional shoot in 2016 before settling for second place there and just missing making the National Finals.

 

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