Members of the Great Bend Optimist Club hosted a local competition for the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge.
The competition was held at The Fieldhouse on March 5. The Jr. NBA Skills Challenge provides boys and girls, ages 13 and younger, the opportunity to improve upon and showcase their fitness through five fundamental basketball skills: shooting, lay-ups, dribbling, passing and defense.
In the local competition for the 13U age group the Champion was Jordan Kitch. 2nd Place went to Levi McCormick and Julian Hernandez finished 3rd. For the 11U competitors, Jakoby Sundahl took the title, with Dylan Sundahl finishing second and Jaxton Leiker 3rd.
Optimist Member and Project Chairman, Shane Dicks said, “This was a good local contest, and participants may have a chance to go for an all-expense paid trip to New York City for the National finals and NBA Draft. They would need to meet the National Qualifying score determined by competition happening through April.”
Dicks also complimented the Great Bend High School and Barton Community College athletes, Sadie Spray, Kylie McCormick, Parker Dicks and Joel Ortiz who volunteered to mentor the participants in the competition.
The Great Bend Optimist Club is a civic group dedicated to being the Friend of Youth. The Club meets each Monday for lunch at the Walnut Bowl.