When Zenith stepped up to a free-throw line in the McDowell Mountain Elementary School gym Nov. 20, there was no championship on the line, no crowd cheering.
In fact, in the particular type of basketball competition Zenith and dozens of other McDowell Mountain students were competing in, there was no crowd noise at all — nor was it permitted.
Allowing shooters to quietly concentrate is one of many unique features of the Elks Hoops Shoot, a national contest with qualifying in gyms across the U.S., with district, state and regional competitions funneling the best shooters into national age-group finals.
