Kids to Shoot for Free Throw Title

Some Westborough kids will shoot for a trophy 15 times for a trophy next week.

From a free throw line at the Gibbons Middle School.

The , will sponsor its annual free throw competition for boys and girls ages 10 to 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15. Registration is from 6 to 7 p.m. Forms also are available at www.kofc85.org. The snow date is Jan. 22.

Entry is free.

Last year’s contest drew 41 kids, event Chairman Jim O’Connor said today.

“The primary group is the 10 year olds, who love this stuff. The 10- and 11-year-olds,” he said.

“The little guys find it to be a perfect challenge because that’s typically their threshold is, ‘When the pressure’s on, can they make that foul shot?’”

The youngsters will compete against their peers in age and gender, O’Connor said.

After three practice shots, they’ll have 15 free throws.

The youngsters making the highest number of shots each receive a trophy and advance to the district competition, in February, O’Connor said. The district winners head to the states, often held in March.

Second-place finishers will go to the districts if the first place winner cannot, O’Connor said.

Tuesday night, ties will be resolved with shoot-offs. The youngster with the top score after five shots advances, O’Connor said.

Some kids participate in the contest regularly, he said.

“We’ve seen some kids for three and four years at a run. We’ve had Westborough kids go all the way to the state finals,” he said.

The Knights of Columbus have sponsored the contest nationally for many years, O’Connor said.

“It’s one of their threshold events for positive youth activities,” he said.