Adams Elementary fourth grader Beaux Douthitt, who will be competing Saturday in the Elks Hoop Shoot State Contest, received some special congratulations from the Cleburne Yellow Jackets. Douthitt, who made 23-of-25 free throws to win the Central District Hoop Shoot in his age division, will be going up against fellow winners from across Texas at the state contest taking place in Carrollton. “This is a big achievement,” Cleburne Head Coach Kurt White said. “I think Beaux needs to come over to the high school and coach our players in shooting free throws. We were happy to go Adams and meet Beaux and let him know that we are cheering for him as he competes on Saturday.” White and senior starters Addison Wallace and Chris Arthurs surprised Douthitt with a classroom visit, and presented him with a basketball signed by the varsity Jackets, who ended their district season in the No. 2 spot and are headed for the playoffs. “He was all smiles,” Wallace said. “It was great to be a part of this. It was also awesome for Chris and me to see the excitement from the kids when we walked in. They were saying, ‘It’s the Jackets!’ It really made us feel special. “I remember the Hoop Shoot contest when I was in elementary school. I never got to the level that Beaux has, so I am very impressed.” Douthitt was among the top shooters in the boys 10-11 age group at his school contest, which earned him the opportunity to compete in the preliminary round held at Wheat Middle School, where he finished second. Only the first-place winners advance to the next level of competition, which made him an alternate to the Central District Hoop Shoot. But the week of the competition, the fourth grader received word that, in the absence of the winner, he was needed to step in. The 10-year-old, who competes in both Little Dribblers and A&M Prime club basketball, went in with a new game plan and found himself in the winner’s circle — and headed for the State Hoop Shoot. “I was disappointed when I didn’t win at the preliminary contest, although I was happy I placed,” Douthitt said. “When they called my mom and asked if I could compete at district, I felt like it was a second chance, and I needed to make the most of it. I went in thinking, ‘I’m going to win this time.’” The fourth grader said he was quite surprised, then excited, when he realized the visitors who walked into his classroom — with a basketball — were there to see him. “I really like basketball and to have one signed by the Jackets is really great,” he said. “I’m going to keep it in my room. It’s pretty awesome that they did this for me.” Douthitt is a two-sport athlete, who splits his time between the gym and the baseball field. His brother, Brady, is a member of the Jackets freshman baseball team. Beaux’s mother, Jacey, says the Douthitt family is ecstatic and super proud. “The Elks Hoop Shoot is a great way for children to show off their individual talents,” she said. “We’d love to see him keep going after state, but we have taken it one competition at a time from the beginning. We would like him to compete in Hoop Shoot as long as he can.” Wheat MS sixth grader Alexis Staton was also among the top shooters at the Central District contest, placing second in the girls 10-11 age group. The Elks Hoop Shoot contest is open to boys and girls ages 8-13. The winners of Saturday’s state contest will advance to the Southwest Region 11 Semi-Finals, taking place in Dallas and involving contestants from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The National Hoop Shoot will be held in Chicago in April.