Kevin Conlon is no stranger to big shots.
A 1,000 point scorer for Bellwood-Antis in the early 2000’s, he was one of his college program’s top all time scorers playing at Pitt Greensburg.
“My junior year in college, I believe I made two free throws in the final couple seconds to tie the game and send us to overtime versus Lake Erie College on the road. We ended up winning in overtime,” he recalled.
But those pressurized shots were nothing, Conlon said, compared to watching his daughter, Myers third grader Sadie, when she was at the foul line recently in a high-stakes shooting contest.
Last month, Sadie won the Elks Hoop Shoot North Central District championship in the girls 8-9 year-old division by making 21 of 25 foul shots at Huntingdon Area High School. She had solidified a spot in the event by winning the local qualifier in Tyrone in December, similarly sinking 21 of 25.
“Watching Sadie is more fun for me, but I say I have more anxiety watching her play than I ever did myself,” Kevin said, “because I know she wants to do well. She’s very competitive and gets nervous, and there’s nothing I can do but watch.”
Thanks to those performances, Sadie will shoot for a state championship in March. She’s one of two B-A students to make it to the Pennsylvania finals, joining seventh grader Connor Gray.
Sadie’s mother Lindsey, who teaches at Myers and is the coach for B-A’s junior high girls program, said a lot of time and effort went into her daughter’s solid finish.
“She gets a lot of practice in throughout the week because, in addition to her own games and practices, she comes in a practices with my junior high team when she can,” said Lindsey. “Leading up to the contest, Sadie was shooting everyday. She shot about 100 free throws each time.”
Sadie’s 21-for-25 showing was a large upgrade from last year, when she made 15. When asked about what has been able to help her improve so much in just a year, Sadie said, “My parents have been really helpful in getting me better.”
Lindsey, who played in high school for Altoona before playing at both Geneva and Penn State Altoona in college, appreciates Sadie’s work ethic, which is something she and Kevin instill no matter the activity.
“Our thought is that if you are going to be involved in something, you are going to work hard and give your best effort in whatever you decide to do,” said Lindsey. “She’s been easy so far because she has the desire to get better. She wants to come to practice with me and be included in the drills. She wants to go outside and shoot. She wants to watch games on TV and go to local high school and college games to be a spectator. I hope that the love of the game continues.”
Sadie is a very advanced basketball player for her age. She plays on both the 3rd and 5th grade Bellwood-Antis elementary teams, frequently facing older competition. She gives credit to her dad and Jason Housel for being her coaches and allowing her to hone in her skills on the court.
“Sadie shoots at least 4-5 times per week. She is playing in leagues 4 nights a week,” said Lindsey. “She plays with her third-grade team at the Altoona Junior High and in a double-header league in Dubois. She plays at the Garver YMCA and the Central Blair Rec. with the Bellwood 5th grade team.”
Sadie admits to still being nervous before games and competitions, adding, “Whenever I do get nervous, my parents are always there to help me calm down.”
Sadie isn’t the only one getting nervous. Along with Kevin, Lindsey feels it, too.
“While players are shooting, the gym is silent,” said Lindsey. “There is not to be cheering and no talking, so the pressure is high. This was the first time she’d ever been in a situation like this. I think she handled it better than me.”
For Gray, the District hoop shoot was a breath of new life. Initially, he placed second at the local event in Tyrone and did not initially qualify for Districts; however, when the first place winner was unable to go Connor stepped up.
Not only did he compete on short notice, but he went on to win the district competition, draining 20 of 25 shots.
Connor will now advance onto the state contest in the 12/13 year old boys category.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It can be very nerve-racking. I try not to think about it and go out there and just shoot.”
The Elks National Hoop Shoot has been going on for over 50 years now. It is a free throw competition for children between the ages of 8-13. Each contestant gets 25 shots from the free throw line.
Bellwood-Antis is no stranger to success in the Elk’s Hoop shoot competition. Back in 2016, Holden Schreier, now a senior, won the state competition. Before Holden, Nathan Davis, one of the greatest Bellwood-Antis boys basketball players of all time, who would eventually become the top scorer in Blair County boys basketball history, won the same contest and eventually became the national champion in 2011.
For Holden, the positive takeaways from competing in the hoops shoot are numerous.
”I think the biggest benefits of the hoop shoot are to meet young people with similar interests and to compete,” said Holden.
Sadie Conlon and Connor are looking for a chance to etch their names onto the short list of winners from B-A. They will compete for the state title at Bellefonte Area High School on March 1.
