CHICAGO Dierks Kegler was unfazed heading into a shoot-off to decide third place at the Elks Hoop Shoot National Final.
Last year, the 10-year-old from Moran took 11th in the 8-9 year-old division and now, even with the added provisos of using a regulation size basketball and shooting from the actual free throw line, Kegler was just five successful free throws away from a top-three finish and a trophy thats about half his height.
His competitor was nervous. Who wouldnt be? Months upon months of preparation had led to this point in a Chicago high school gymnasium. Both Kegler and his competitor had made 24 of the previous 25 shots. Kegler, though, was as chill as a Chicago winter.
