If you're a kid free-throw whiz, this contest is for you

The annual Free Throw Shooting Contest, hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 654 and the Elks Lodge 737 Elgin, will be held Saturday.

For kids who like basketball, this is your chance to test your free throw-shooting skills against other kids your age.

This free event is open to boys and girls from the Elgin area, ages 8 to 14. It will be held Saturday in the school gym of St Thomas More School, Highland Avenue and St. Thomas More Drive in Elgin.

The contest will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Sign up anytime between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to participate in the contest.

Kids will compete against others in their same age, and gender categories. Each contestant will shoot between 15 and 25 free throws. Contestants with the best shooting percentages will be awarded prizes and be eligible to move onto the district finals for a chance to move on to state, regional and even national competitions.

Both Council 654 of the Knights of Columbus and Lodge 737 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks have been part of the Elgin community for more than 100 years.

The annual hoop shoot contest is just one of the many community programs that these organizations sponsor. If you have any questions regarding the contest, call Bruce Martens at (847) 695-5308 or Larry Smith at (847) 608-6577.

In addition, the St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus Council 11666 will hold its competition at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Huntley High School gym, 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley. For entry forms or information on the Huntley contest, call Frank Rzeszutko at (847) 659-9006.