TYRONE — Two sharpshooters from Curwensville representing Clearfield BPOE Lodge No. 540 won their second North Central District championships for the Elks National \”Hoop Shoot\” Free Throw Contest Saturday at Tyrone Area High School.
Ciara Strickland and Megan Witherow will join winners of nine other districts in the Pennsylvania State Championships on March 10 in the State College Area High School North Building.
Strickland, a state champion in girls 8-and-9 age group last year, made 19 of 25 foul shots to claim the 10-and-11 crown.
Witherow, the North Central District titlist in 10-and-11 in 2005, was on target 21 times to grab the 12-and-13 championship.
Austin Krise of Bigler, another Clearfield Lodge champ, hit 18 shots to finished second in the boys 8-and-9 age group.
Ashley Khouri tied for third with 13 baskets in girls 8-and-9 but lost a shootout 3-1 to Hannah Laidig of Bedford to place fourth.
Aaron Angstadt\’s 17 free throws were good for only fifth place in the hotly-contested boys 12-and-13 division.
Seth Ford finished ninth in boys 10-and-11 with eight free throws.
Clearfield\’s total of 96 was good for second place behind Tyrone\’s 106 in the team race. Trailing were Bedford (90), State College(86), Bellefonte (67), Huntingdon (67), Lock Haven (63), Philipsburg (57) and Lewistown (42). Jersey Shore, Renovo and Milton were not represented.
Kari Glass (21 free throws, 8-and-9) of Tyrone was the other girls champion. Boys winners were Kody Trude (21, 8-and-9) of Philipsburg, Brandon Drenning (22, 10-and-11) of Tyrone and Jeremy Koller (22, 12-and-13) of Lewistown.
