Staff Writer
Cool under pressure. That’s how 11-year-old Parker Brewer handled the Maine Elks District Hoop Shoot in Bangor, as he captured the 10-11-year-old title.
WINNERS – Placing in the Maine Elks District Hoop Shoot in Bangor are, from left, Kolleen Bouchard, second after a shoot-out in the 8-9-year-old girls’ division; Parker Brewer, winner of the 10-11-year-old division after a shootout; Robert Rockwell, second after a shoot-out in the 12-13-year-old boys’ category and Lauren Rockwell was third in the 10-11-year-old girls’ division. Brewer, who was the winner of the local shoot-off held December 14 at Houlton Alumni Gymnasium advanced to the district event on January 18. He will now move onto the state foul shooting contest in Augusta on February 1.
Brewer tied with a shooter from Presque Isle, as both youth made 15 of 25 foul shots, forcing a shoot-off between the two participants.
Ties are broken by both shooters taking five more shots.
The Presque Isle participant made four of five shots, putting the pressure on Brewer. When asked if he was nervous, Brewer said, “not really. I was just hoping the shots would get in.”
Brewer made his first four shots and had his last one to go.
“The whole gym was really quiet,” he recalled.
“He was very calm under pressure,” said his mother Lynette. “In his first round, the girls finished and he was the last one to shoot, so all eyes were on him. Then, he went second in the shootout and he knew he had to make all of the shots. No one was shooting at the other end so the gym was very silent.”
On his last shot, Brewer coolly sank it for the win.
“For a kid that doesn’t show much emotion, he is pretty proud of himself,” said his mother.
Brewer said he participated in the foul shooting contest to “work on my free throws.”
“I didn’t think I’d win,” he said. “For both competitions, I had to do shoot-offs because there was a tie. It was really close both times.”
With the state competition approaching, Brewer is preparing for the event.
“I have been going to the rec a lot and practicing,” he said. “I practice a lot during my basketball team practices, too.”
Can Brewer pull off another win?
“I am hoping that I will win,” he said, “but, the competition will be tough.”
Brewer is the son of Lynette and Chris Brewer of Houlton and the grandson of David and Mary Grant and Peter and Jo Brewer, all of Houlton.
Other contestants at the district shoot-off were: Kolleen Bouchard, second after a shoot-out in the 8-9-year-old girls’ division; Robert Rockwell, who came in second after a shoot-out in the 12-13-year-old boys’ category; Lauren Rockwell was third in the 10-11-year-old girls’ division; Mariah Wiley placed in the 12-13-year-old girls’ division and Cameron Cleary participated in the 8-9-year-old boys’ category.
