Hoop Shoot netted 33 contestants

Ryder Ritchie's practice paid off at the annual Elks Hoop Shoot last Saturday, as he won first place among 8- and 9-year-old boys.

"I really like it," Ryder said. "I really, really practiced on my basketball hoop at the house. I got good at it and I want to do it some more."

Participants were split pretty evenly at the community center gym Jan. 23, with 18 girls and 15 boys. Though in "normal" years, local winners can advance and try for nationals, there will be no national Hoop Shoot this pandemic year, said Wrangell organizer Jeff Jabusch.

Regardless, he said, volunteers still wanted to put...