(L) Adrian Brubaker Trophy Presentation: Exalted Ruler Pat Martino; Connor Haskell; Brian Ratlif; Larry Torres (at podium), Area 7 Director.
(L) Champion’s 10/11 Age Group Basketball and Trophy Presentation: Connor Haskell; Brian Ratlif, Southern CHEA Director.
Connor Haskell Shooting a Free Throw.
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) announced that eleven year old Conner Haskell, one of the Lodge’s sponsored contestants in the “Hoop Shoot Free Throw Competition” who lives in Mission Viejo, has won first place in the Elks Area 7 Five State competition for boys in the 10/11 age group held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Elks Hoop Shoot® program strives to build character in our nation’s youth, while promoting integrity, hard work, quality family time and good sportsmanship.
Connor Haskell made 23 of 25 free throws at basketball regulation distance and height to win this five state competition. In addition in a shoot out for best free throw shooter regardless of age group, Connor won the Prestigious Adrian Brubaker Trophy. Connor made 29 of 30 free throws to win over 13 year old Alex Ziska who shot 28 of 30 free throws. In total, in the local, district, state and Area 7 hoop shoot competitions, Connor made a total of 95 three throws out of 100 attempts! Connor now advances to the national competition held at the Naismith National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts, April 28 – May1, 2011.
Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino, who also serves as Elks Lodge and Orange Coast District Hoop Shoot Chairman, said, “From the local, district, state and now the Area 7 hoop shoot competition, Connor has set a new standard for the definition of grace under pressure. He is a tremendous representative of his family and the Mission Viejo community.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444 celebrating forty-one (41) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities is one of ten lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 143 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
