Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Basketball free throw involves 7,000 youth

EDMONTON — More than 7,000 children from across Alberta recently took part in one of the lower profile projects of the Knights of Columbus.

The K of C basketball free throw competition involved 80 councils across Alberta who put on local competitions for schools in their area.

Age group winners for both boys and girls aged 10 to 14 advanced to the district level and then the regional and provincial levels where provincial champions were declared.

In the contest, each contestant takes 25 consecutive free throw attempts with the winner being the child who makes the most baskets. In this year's event, Thara Kumar of Edmonton (11-year-old girls) and Thomas Butlin of Edmonton (14-year-old boys) were the top competitors, each sinking 23 of 25 throws.

John Mommersteeg of Edmonton has been involved with the free throw competition since he joined the Knights in 1990. For the past three years, he's been the provincial coordinator.

The competition draws "constant compliments" from parents and teachers pleased to see the youth program, says Mommersteeg. "Fulfillment comes from the parents and seeing the smiles from the kids."

The free throw competition began 27 years ago in the United States and this year involved 220,000 participants across the continent.

Ontario probably has the best participation of all jurisdictions, said Mommersteeg. "But Alberta is way up there."

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