Local Student Sweeps Hoop Shoot Contests

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur Middle School student Adriano 'Bubba' Almony recently took first place in both the Elks Lodge and Knights of Columbus Hoop Shoot contests and will move on to district competition.

Almony, 13, won his age bracket in both competitions, which are affiliated with the Elks National Hoop Shoot free throw contest. The contest is open to all boys and girls ages eight to 13 in both public and private schools within their various districts. Almony and dozens of other area students participated in the local competition at Worcester Prep.

The Hoop Shoot contest is being conducted in several tiers to qualify for the national finals including individual school contests, lodge contests, district contests, state contests, regional contests, and, ultimately, the national finals.

Almony, the local winner, advanced in the competition. He is in the chorus at Stephen Decatur Middle and plays basketball for the Ocean Pines Recreation Department. Almony also practices karate at the Panther Academy in the Pines. Although he wore a University of Maryland jersey during the competition, he hopes to play basketball for the University of Georgia when he graduates.