The Knights of Columbus Council 2522 of Sacred Heart Church Palmerton held a community free throw event Saturday for boys and girls ages 9-14.

Students from Palmerton and Lehighton competed in the district competition with the winners moving on to an upcoming regional event to be held in February.

Each competitor shot 25 free throws with boys and girls ages 9-11 using a women’s regulation-size basketball and shot from a 12-foot foul line, while girls ranging in age 12-14 shot from the regulation 15-foot foul line. Boys ages 12-14 used a men’s regulation-sized basketball and shot from the regulation foul line of 15 feet.

Winning participants for the girls were Brielle Steigerwalt, age 10; and Amy Serfass, age 11. Boys winners were Dean Kuhns, age 9; Jackson Amorim, age 10; Andrew Rodenbach, age 11; Landan Steigerwalt, age 12; and Chase Sebelin, age 13.

“I had fun shooting free throws,” Sebelin said of the event. “Some of my teammates from my junior high basketball team competed. We were all cheering for each other. I’ve been practicing my basketball skills with my dad and brothers.” Sebelin shot 20 of 25 from the line.

“It was a lot of fun today,” Brielle Steigerwalt said. “I play point guard on my booster club team. My brother Landan and I both won today in our age groups.”

Joe Koma, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Sacred Heart Campus, was happy with the number of kids participating.

“It’s great to see the boys and girls come out to show off their basketball skills,” Koma said.

The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world with nearly two million members. Lafayette Council 2522 enjoys volunteering and participating in charitable events within the parish and throughout the community.