SPORTS

Three locals advance in Elks Hoop Shoot

Posted 11/18/21

By PETE FONTAINE For three area youngsters, the "Road to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame" began Saturday inside the Cranston YMCA's multi-use gymnasium. Sophia Pagliarini, Lucas Gomes-Sherman and Patrick Wingate emerged victorious during the

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.

SPORTS

Three locals advance in Elks Hoop Shoot

SUPER SHOOTERS: These are some of the youngsters who competed in the Tri-City Elks Hoop Shoot Saturday and are joined by Exalted Ruler Deb Mangina, are in front from left: Annabel Drowne, Sophia Paliarini, Armani DeMello and Londen Morrell. Top: Lucas Gomes, Patrick Wingate, Christian Perez and Jereme Charles Jr.

VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS: Tri-City Elks members Dick Warner, his wife/Past Exalted Ruler Donna Warner and RI Elks State Hoop Shoot Director Steven Lagesse helped make Saturday’s 50th annual event a success. (Warwick Beacon photos by Pete Fontaine)

Posted Thursday, November 18, 2021 6:51 am

By PETE FONTAINE

For three area youngsters, the “Road to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame” began Saturday inside the Cranston YMCA’s multi-use gymnasium.

Sophia Pagliarini, Lucas Gomes-Sherman and Patrick Wingate emerged victorious during the Tri-City Elks annual Hoop Shoot by sinking the most shots from 25 attempts at the foul line and thus advanced to the Dec. 19 District Shoot that this year will be held at Smithfield High School.

If the three pre-teens win that competition, which will again be a best of 25-foul shot event, they would then compete for the coveted state championship on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2022 at the Cranston.

“Our state champions will move to the Regional Hoop Shoot in South Portland, Maine from March 12, 2022 with those winners moving into the Elks National Hoop Shoot Championships that begin on April 28 and run through May 1, 2022 in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena which is home to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.”

In addition to winning the 50th Anniversary of the highly-acclaimed Elks National Hoop Shoot, those victorious foul shooters will have their picture and names inscribed into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Ma.

Likewise, the hallowed Hall is a proud sponsor Elks National Hoop Shoot.

As equally impressive, each of the state winners and their parents receive travel and lodging expenses to Maine and Chicago that is provided by the famed Elks National Foundation.

“We are proud of all our local champions,” offered Steven Lagesse, the longtime Rhode Island Elks Association Hoop Shoot Director. “We wish them well and would love to have one of our local shooters win it all!”

Meanwhile, Deb Mangina, the highly-popular Exalted Ruler for Tri-City Lodge located at 1915 West Shore Road in Warwick, added: “The Elks sponsor this fun, safe and sportsmanship-filled program. Every child that competes is a winner. It’s also a wonderful way for people – young and old alike – to meet.”

Once the local competition was in the books, Pagliarini, 9, took home the title in the girls 8-9 Division while Gomes, 9 won the Boys Division. Wingate, 11, captured the Boys 10-11 crown.