Contributed Photo Gabrielle Cohen, 9, of Jeffersonville, seen here at the local competition in Liberty last week, won the girls 8-9 District level Saturday at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake. She now moves on to the Regional competition in Glens Falls on February 9.

Cohen advances to Hoop Shoot Regionals

Contributed Story
LOCH SHELDRAKE — January 21, 2014 — Gabrielle Cohen, 9, of Jeffersonville advanced to the New York State Regional level of the Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest Saturday by winning the girls 8-9 District championship at Sullivan County Community College.
Cohen, was the only Sullivan County participant to win her division, connecting on 11 of 25 shots. She is now eligible to compete at the Regionals in Glens Falls on Sunday, February 9.
Danielle Rasmussen of Jeffersonville, Kelsey Morgans of Liberty and Collin Garofolo of Roscoe finished as runner-ups in the girls 10-11, girls 12-13 and boys 10-11 divisions respectively. They are the alternates to compete in Glens Falls if the division winners are unable to compete.
Saturday’s District Hoop Shoot, presented by the Monticello Elks Lodge, was comprised of winners from local shoots in Middletown, Kingston, Port Jervis and Liberty. It was held despite heavy snow and rough road conditions which prevented some contestants from participating.
Cohen got off to a slow start, hitting on only two of her first 10 shots. But, she found her rhythm on the second set of 15 shots, making nine, including five in a row at one juncture.
The 8-9 girls and boys shoot from a line four feet inside of the regular free throw line or 11 feet from the backboard. All other divisions shoot at the regulation free throw distance (15 feet from the backboard).

DISTRICT RESULTS
@ SUNY Sullivan
GIRLS
8-9
1. Gabrielle Cohen, Jeffersonville 11
2. Penny Jones, Port Jervis 3

10-11
1. Kathryn Mulhare, Middletown 7
2. Danielle Rasmussen, Jeff 2

12-13
1. Katalina DeLeon, Middletown 14
2. Kelsey Morgans, Liberty 13

BOYS
8-9
1. Jack DeLeon, Middletown 17
2. Landon Machado, Port Jervis 13

10-11
1. Preston Machado, Port Jervis 14
2. Collin Garofolo, Roscoe 13

12-13
1. Shyquan Royal, Kingston 15
2. Strom Kaplan, Bloomingburg 13