Funkhouser finds hidden talent in local contest
GILROY – Katherine Funkhouser likes to draw. The St. Mary’s fourth-grader also wants to work in an aquarium some day.
The 9-year old Gilroyan, however, had no idea of her hidden talent and soon-to-be new passion until one day at school when all of her classmates participated in the Hoops-Shoot Free Throw Competition, sponsored by the Gilroy Elks.
Funkhouser picked up the basketball and started draining free throws, eventually being named the St. Mary’s School Champion and given a chance to battle with the top third- and fourth- graders from the Gilroy Unified School District.
“This first one was kind of easy,” said Katherine, who went on to win the Gilroy free-throw title at the Solorsano Gymnasium. “I didn’t really practice that much.”
But the free-throw specialist advanced even further to the District Finals at San Benito High School in Hollister, where she came out on top once again. This time, Funkhouser sank 19 free throws, which was six better than the second-place finisher.
“She did really well,” said Katherine’s mother, Dori Funkhouser, who was with her every step of the way. “We were shocked. My husband and I sat there with our mouths wide open. We were awestruck.”
Funkhouser had her own system. She bounced the ball five times before taking her shot, two feet in from the standard free-throw line. It worked like a charm.
“I just came up with it and said I’m going to stick with that,” said Katherine, who was now headed to a junior high school gymnasium in Sacramento for the Western U.S. Finals.
“She was a stud,” said Tim Fortino, Chair of the Hoops-Shoot Committee for the Elks Lodge.
The Gilroy Elks brought back the free-throw event after a few years of not running it. This year’s competition had 500 local youngsters participate in different age divisions and the Elks plan on making it an annual event. The Hoops-Shoot is a nation-wide competition run by local chapters of the Elks. At the district finals in Hollister, 10 lodges were represented. Funkhouser was the only Gilroy shooter to advance.
Moving on to Sacramento, Funkhouser was up against the top shooters in her age group from Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon.
“I was a lot nervous,” said Katherine, who had to wipe the sweat from her hands before taking a shot.
The garlic hoopster stayed in her zone, sinking 12 straight free throws at one point in the second round. When every shooter had taken their turn, Funkhouser, who hit 20-of-25 from the line, was in a tie for first place with one other girl.
“It was really intense,” Dori Funkhouser said. “You could hear a pin drop in the gym.”
The two finalists battled into two extra shootouts before the champion was decided. In the first group of five shots, both competitors finished with 3-of-5 shots made. But in the second, Funkhouser drained two free throws compared to her opponent’s four.
“My heart was really going,” the proud mother said. “I was so excited.”
Funkhouser, who will be presented with her trophy at the Elk’s monthly meeting in April, was one win short of the Western Regional Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. But she plans on coming back next year. The National Finals are then held in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Funkhouser’s new interest in basketball was inspired by the free-throw contest, and she just completed her first season in the City of Gilroy Community Recreational Basketball League. Next year, she plans on trying out for the St. Mary’s school team.
“It inspired her to play basketball. It’s something she would have never played before,” Dori Funkhouser said. “We’re real thankful to the Elks. We’re just very appreciative.”
