Howard Hurt Sr. and family.

Story by Liz Tennent, Salisbury Elks Lodge

For Salisbury Post

SALISBURY — As 11-year-old Marlie Steele prepares to compete in the National Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Championships in Chicago, she will make history as the first female to represent Salisbury Elks Lodge No. 699.

The lodge sponsored the annual local contest with Salisbury Parks and Recreation way back in January at Hall Gym. The finals are slated for Saturday, April 26, at Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky and DePaul University men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The Hoop Shoot began in 1946 in Oregon, but it wasn’t until 1972 that the program held its first national competition in Kansas City, Missouri. Then, in 1974, the Elks National Foundation started funding the program. One of the first orders of business was the historic change to allow girls to fully compete in the contest.

Marlie’s run has been remarkable as a first-time Hoop Shoot participant. She won local, district, state and regional competitions in the Girls 10-11 division. She started playing basketball at the YMCA when she was 4 years old and hasn’t stopped.

Her passion and skill for basketball run in the family. Her dad, Ryan, played for Pfeiffer University from 2000-2004 and is owner of Heart of a Champion Basketball Training in Rowan County. The Steeles are die-hard Duke fans. Former coach Mike Krzyzewski recently sent autographed photos and “best swishes” to Marlie for the national contest.

But there’s more history to share as part of Marlie’s journey to Chicago, and it leads to another special Blue Devil connection.

In 2002, Rockwell’s Howard Hurt Jr., a student at Erwin Middle School, finished in sixth place at the National Hoop Shoot in the Boys 12-13 division. Hurt competed against 11 other regional winners. According to record checks, that’s the only time the Salisbury Elks had a participant in the national finals.

“Back then, the nationals were in Springfield, Massachusetts, and I was super excited to get to the national championship since I lost the previous year in the regional,” said Hurt, who now lives in Greenville, N.C., with his wife, Tricia, and 2-year-old daughter Ellie.

“My mother (Phyllis), my father (Howard Sr.) and my sister (Elinor) all went with me. I have good memories of the event and the awards dinner. I also enjoyed going to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.”

As far as the competition, Hurt wasn’t sure what to expect but he knew it would be tough.

“I figured it would take 24 or 25 makes to win. The first shooter was a very tall player (Cameron Kleinheksel from Holland, Mich.). I remember thinking he was probably a power forward or center. They aren’t typically known as great free throw shooters.”

But that was not the case.

“After the first round, Cameron and I were the only ones to go 10 of 10,” Hurt said. “As I sat down to wait for the next round, I thought I had a shot. But then he drilled his final 15 of 15 and that put the pressure on me. I was the only one that had a chance to tie. As it turns out, that ‘very tall first shooter’ scored a perfect 25 of 25 and won the national title.”

Hurt finished with an impressive total of 21 of 25 free throws. There was a tie for second between two players who made 24 of 25 shots, which forced a shootout of five additional free throws.

The 6-foot-4 Hurt played basketball at Erwin and starred in high school at North Davidson, while playing for his half-brother Fredrick Hurt. He went on to Hargrave Military Academy, East Carolina University and then Guilford College.

He met his wife, Tricia, at ECU after she moved to North Carolina to play college soccer. She is now an athletic director and girls soccer coach in Greenville.

Hurt’s dad, Howard Sr., a native of West Virginia, enjoyed an outstanding career at Duke University. He was a 1,000-point scorer, Duke’s 1959 team MVP and a second team All-ACC pick three straight seasons. Hurt’s career average of 13.7 points a game came without benefit of the 3-point shot. He was a strong rebounder for a guard and broke Duke’s free-throw shooting records.

So which Howard, father or son, won most of their hoop shooting contests at home?

“We haven’t had a free-throw competition recently, but we used to have them all the time,” shared Hurt Jr.  “He might say different, but I cannot recall him ever winning one.”

That may be up for debate at the next family gathering in Rockwell.

However, both probably would agree on advice to Marlie from the charity stripe.

“Consistent practice and repetitions are definitely keys to success,” said Hurt Jr.

Although he still enjoys sports, he adds that he is more of a spectator now. Ellie will start soccer in the fall. And there’s always Duke basketball.

“Ellie went to her first Duke women’s basketball game in February and is a big fan,” he said.

Marlie will be one of 12 hoopsters competing in the Girls 10-11 age group. There are 72 finalists (36 boys and 36 girls) from the 12 regions across the country participating in three age categories: 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. Six national champions will be crowned and will receive the national trophy along with plenty of accolades. Their names will be permanently inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Hurt Jr. has his own “best swishes” and encouraging words for Marlie and her family.

“As an athlete and former Hoop Shoot national finalist, I know Marlie may feel some nerves and pressure,” he said. “My main message to her is to go and enjoy the experience. It will be something that she’ll always remember. Go Marlie … and, of course, Go Duke!”       

For more information about the Salisbury Elks Lodge and Hoop Shoot event, go to www.salisburyelks.org or call 704-636-1161.