Two Greene County youngsters will compete at this weekend’s Elks Hoop Shoot Contest.

Brynley Ruzicka qualified for the state contest by winning the 10-11 year-old district competition last month at Storm Lake. Gabe Schroeder also qualified after winning the 8-9 year-old contest. Each contestant is given 25 free throws and whoever makes to most got to advance to the next level. Brynley’s mother, Heather, says she was nervous because her son was tied with another boy after 25 free throws and then they had to go to sudden death, where it’s the best out of five free throws.

“(It’s) Extremely nerve-racking. I kind of joked with him, these last two years he’s gone to sudden death and I said, ‘No more.’ My nerves can’t handle it. I try really hard to watch, but even then I kind of close my eyes and hope for the best. And he has a natural ease on the court, so I don’t worry too much about him. But I do not have that same ease in the bleachers. It’s fun to watch.”

Both boys will compete in Grinnell on Saturday. If they win their respective age divisions, then they will move on to the regional competition before heading to the national contest.