Local basketball players take aim at free throw shooting title

Youth basketball players from the Amherstburg area got a chance to test their free throw shooting skills against their peers last week.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship was brought to Amherstburg thanks to K of C Council 2110 with the local competition being held in North Star High School’s gymnasium Friday night.

“It’s for all of the kids in the community ages 9-14,” explained K of C Council 2110 Grand Knight Camillo D’Alimonte. “We’ve been doing this annually for at least ten years.”

Approximately 30 boys and girls from the area took part in the competition.

D’Alimonte said the local Knights of Columbus sponsors a lot of youth sports teams and wanted to do something to give back.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship allows the youth to get involved and be active, he said. The event saw youth compete against their own ages with girls on one basket and boys on another.

It was also geared towards giving youth an athletic outlet and showing them the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition.

Top three competitors were:

Girls 9-year-old - Teia Jacques (first), Charlotte O'Neil (second), Sawyer Waters (third)

Girls 10-year-old - Maddie Weston (first), Natalie McGuire (second), Gabriella Shreve (third)

Girls 11-year-old - Cambria Girard (first), Aurelia Haykal (second), Leah Doherty (third)

Girls 12-year-old - Zoey Deschamp (first), Alivia Borre (second), Abby Durham (third)

Girls 13-year-old- Avryl Levesque (first), Hailey Scott (second)

Boys 9-year-old - Coden Weber (first), Luca Paquette (second), Tavon Johnson (third)

Boys 10-year-old - Holden Taylor (first), Easton Gyori (second), David Murray (third)

Boys 11-year-old- Connor Bondy (first), Jackson McLean (second), Prynce Luciw (third)

Boys 12-year-old - Austin Allen (first), Hudson Melko (second), Kai Robson (third)

Boys 13-year-old - Brody LeBlanc (first), Beau McGrath (second)

D’Alimonte said all first place winners will be representing Amherstburg in the District Competition being held in Leamington Feb. 24 at UMEI High School, located at 614 Mersea Road starting at 9:30 a.m.

The district consists of Knights of Columbus councils including Amherstburg,  Harrow, Kingsville and Leamington. 

By Ron Giofu