Now in its second half-century, the annual Elks Hoop Shoot continues to attract the town’s young free-throw shooters for a chance to win medals — and a free basketball and then free hamburgers for everyone after the competition.

This year’s Hoop Shoot on Saturday morning, Dec. 13, at the community center gym, drew 34 contestants ages 8 through 13, with 18 boys and 16 girls.

The Elks Lodge served free burgers for lunch after the event.

The kids each take 25 free throws to determine the winners — and there were some sharpshooters in the group.

8- and 9-year-old girls: First place, Leeya Gillen, 12 of 25; second place, Kysa Harrison; third place, Everly Cook.

8- and 9-year-old boys: First, Maddox Angerman, 19 of 25; second, Nolan Johnson; third, Chayda Stead.

10- and 11-year-old girls: First, Abi Howell, 8 of 25; second, Ayla Daugherty; third, Gretchen Powell.

10- and 11-year-old boys: First, Sasha Lofftus, 10 of 25; second, Ryder Miller; third, Isaac Scheiner.

12- and 13-year-old girls: First, Baylee Daugherty, 12 of 25; second, Hailey Gablehouse; third, Brooke Ostrander.

12- and 13-year-old boys: First, Jude Johnson, 19 of 25, who won after a tiebreaker against Malachi Harrison, who also shot 19 of 25; third, Kyler Angerman, just one shot back at 18 of 25 baskets.

The winners in each age category received medals for first, second and third places. Everyone received other prizes for participating.

The scores from Wrangell’s Hoop Shoot first-place finishers will be sent to the program’s state director to line up against competition held by the Elks Lodges across Alaska.

The state winners will travel to regional and, if they qualify, to national competition, courtesy of the Elks-funded program, said Jeff Jabusch, a decades-long volunteer for the Hoop Shoot.

The Wrangell Elks Lodge pays for the basketballs, medals and burgers.