The competition was fierce, as 11 participants put their form on display for the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest held on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Chenowith Elementary School in The Dalles.

Basketball players participated in the Elks Northeast Region District Hoop Shoot on Sunday, Dec. 7 in Hermiston. Julie Hull knocked down 22 of 25 shots for first place in her girls’ bracket, while Jason Hull made 18 of his 25 free throw attempts to pull away from his field.

Maupin natives Julie and Jason Hull and Harley Beaver won their respective events at The Dalles Elks Hoops Shoot Free Throw contest on Dec. 17 in The Dalles, and advanced to the district round, which is scheduled for this Sunday in Hermiston.

While Maupin native Jason Hull did not win a national championship, he can take pride in knowing he was one of top-12 free throw shooters across a nation of more than half a million participants between the ages of 8-13.

With the pressure rising, Maupin native Jason Hull stayed calm, cool and collected. Hull sank 22 of 25 free throws to defeat Armani Smith, Chatz Dollente and Christian Cordona at the Elk’s Northwest Regional finals held on March 11 at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.

The South Wasco County brother and sister tandem of Julie and Jason Hull each moved on to the Northwest Regional finals after impressive free throw shooting displays at the Elk’s State Championship Hoop Shoot held last Saturday at Alder Creek Middle School in Milwaukie.

Facing athletes from Baker to The Dalles, the local duo of Julie and Jason Hull, in middle, won their respective age divisions at the Elks Hoop Shoot District Free Throw contest held Sunday in Hermiston.