Free Throw Turnout Has Knights Jumping for Joy

A youth basketball contest Tuesday night left the Westborough Knights of Columbus jumping for joy.

John Boyle O’Reilly Council 85’s annual free throw competition drew 52 students – 29 boys and 23 girls -- ages 10 to 14 to the Gibbons Middle School gymnasium. Each youth shot 15 free throws. The students making the most shots advanced to the districts in February, Past Grand Knight Herman Millet said.

Last year’s contest drew 41 youths.

“We’re very pleased. It’s a great turnout from the youths in the town,” Millet said.

The largest turnout came from the younger grades, “although, we had a good turnout in the boys 12 year old” category, he said.

The second-place finishers Tuesday night will be invited to the districts if the first-place finishers cannot attend, Millet said.

The regional competition would be next, on March 30 at Nichols College, he said. The state competition is April 6 at the College of the Holy Cross, he said.

Tuesday night’s winners were:

• Age 10: Carolyn Kelly and Alex Badger
• Age 11: Fiona Boyd and Peter Bersain
• Age 12: Jessica Grossman and Declan Gardner
• Age 13: MacAyla McAfee and Ben Horsfall
• Age 14: Kaleigh Wright and Connor Schoen

Gardner and Wright reached the regionals last year, Millet said.