AUBURN - To get into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., a person must make a tremendous impact on the global sport. It's where the greatest names in the history of the game are enshrined.

But a group of local athletes on Saturday took the first step toward a much shorter route into the hall, one that could have their names in the hall within a few months.

It was the annual Elks National Free Throw Contest, held locally at the Holy Family Church auditorium for the first round of the contest. The competition was open to children between the ages of 8 and 13.

Saturday's event was the first step in the road to the hall of fame, with the winners moving on to the district level to be held in March.

“The National Elks Lodge has been holding the hoop shoot for more than 100-years,” said Auburn Elks Lodge #474 Exalted Ruler Steve Ross. “It is a way to help kids say yes to hoop shoots, and no to drugs.” The event was sponsored by the Elks lodge and open to the public.

Ross didn't know how many years that the Auburn lodge has been holding the hoop shoot competition, but said that it has most likely been enjoyed by children for decades.

“It has been a very long time,” he said.

Tamiera Jackson, 8, along with her friend, Unique Allen, 9, said that they were a little nervous about throwing the basketball in front of so many people, but were excited at the same time.

“Sometimes I get a little bit nervous,” Jackson said.

“I have been coming here (to Holy Family Auditorium) since I was young,” said Jackson's mother, Lisa Prystal. “I was a cheerleader as a kid. I am happy that they have things like this for the kids at this time of year. It gets them out of the house so they aren't sitting around watching television or playing video games.”

Local chapters of the Elks Lodge do not have to participate in the Hoop Shoot event, but the Auburn Lodge enjoys putting it on for the children each year, Ross said.

From the auditorium, contestants and their families were invited back to the Elks Lodge for a lunch of hot dogs and soft drinks. Trophies and awards were given to the first- through third-place winners.