Champ Looking Ahead 10-Year-Old Anticipates Portland Competition Next Month

Before she shoots a free throw, Jessica Smalley forgets momentarily that she’s representing about 35,000 other kids.

“I think about form,” the 10-year-old said, describing her philosophy in the Elks National “Hoop Shoot” Free Throw Contest. “I always keep my finger on the same spot in the ball. I remember to keep my elbow in.”

Thanks to her concentration and skill, Smalley won the state competition Feb. 12 in Boise. The Borah Elementary student made 19 of her 25 shots in front of three judges and 600 people.

Now Smalley is concentrating on a regional win March 18 in Portland. Up against state finalists from Oregon, Alaska and Washington, Smalley hopes to make all of her 25 shots from the free throw line.

“It’s amazing,” said Marty Smalley, Jessica’s dad. “She says things like `I can’t wait.’ If you know about basketball, you know how important it is to get that free throw shot.”

Smalley’s interest began after a volunteer free throw contest at school. She shot at basketball hoops with other classmates and won. Similar to a spelling bee, winners move up to larger competitions. At the national competition in Massachusetts, winners get their names entered at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

To prepare, Smalley practices her free throws every day after school in sets of 25. On March 18, she will wear the same clothes she has worn in the other contests: blue Nike shorts, her yellow Nike shirt, blue Nike socks, basketball shoes and, because she’s growing her bangs out, the same four hair clips.

Last year, Smalley placed second in the state for 9- and 10-year-olds. In the summer, Smalley takes her radio outside her house and shoots for hours.

She can’t remember when her interest in sports began. When she was 5, she began playing soccer and T-ball. She runs the Bloomsday and Leprechaun races. This year, she’s a fifth-grader playing on the sixth-grade basketball team. She also plays for one of the teams in the Coeur d’Alene Crush program.

In her room, Smalley’s bed is surrounded by all of her trophies. She has posters of Mark McGwire, Scottie Pippen and Mia Hamm. But her biggest influences are several athletes and coaches in Coeur d’Alene.

Basketball coaches Garry Stark and Mike Teal have given Smalley advice and many coaching hours, she said. Her teammates have encouraged her, too.

Smalley hopes to play several sports in high school and in college. She admires athlete Patti Stranger the most.

Stranger is a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School who plays soccer, basketball and softball. Stranger helped the Vikings team win the state basketball championship last weekend.