By Liz Tennent
Salisbury Elks Lodge No. 699

CHICAGO — It has been nearly two months since Marlie Steele won the Elks Regional Hoop Shoot competition to advance to the National Championships in Chicago this weekend.

But Steele’s passion and commitment have not taken any breaks or time off.

From Monday to Friday, the 11-year-old hoopster averages eight to 10 hours with basketball practice, training and games. She shoots a lot of free throws, sometimes as many as 300 per day.

Marlie averages about 76 percent from the charity stripe. Her dad is closer to 90 percent. They are both very competitive, so the backyard battles could be quite interesting.

“I’ve been doing basketball a long time,” says Ryan, who has played or coached for most of his life. “When I was in high school, I probably shot close to 1,000 free throws per day. And, back then, we didn’t have a shooting machine to help us with rebounds.”

Like her dad, Marlie is talented in all areas of the basketball court. And she is no stranger to national championship contests.

In 2023, Steele was a third-grader playing point guard on the fourth-grade Charlotte Dream that won a national championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C. For the last two years, she has been competing with the CP3 basketball academy in Winston Salem established by former Wake Forest University standout and NBA All-Star Chris Paul.

In 2024, she averaged 60 percent from the 3-point arc. Now a fifth-grader, she’s the point guard for the sixth-grade CP3 2031 team and leads the team in all stats. But her role has grown this year since there are new players and a new coach, who happens to be her dad.

“Marlie has the most experience and is emerging as a team leader,” Ryan Steele said. “It’s more than scoring points, getting the most rebounds, steals or even the most wins. This year, she is helping others improve their game which helps her get better too. Ultimately, we all benefit and enjoy the opportunities as players, coaches and as a stronger team.”

At the Hoop Shoot finals on Saturday, Steele will represent North Carolina and the Salisbury Elks Lodge in the Girls 10-11 division. Caelynn Strader from the Reidsville Elks Lodge will compete in the Girls 12-13 age group.

The annual contest takes places at Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky and DePaul University men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Contestants shoot a total of 25 free throws, 10 in the first round, 15 in the final round.

There are 72 finalists (36 boys, 36 girls) from the 12 regions across the country participating in three age groups: 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. Six national champions will be crowned, receive trophies and have their names permanently inscribed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

For more information about the annual Hoop Shoot, contact the Salisbury Elks Lodge atwww.salisburyelks.org or call 704-636-1161.