On Saturday, Feb. 21, Southern Ute tribal member, Sakarii GoodTracks attended the 54th Elk Hoop Shoot State Finals in Salida, Colo., held at Salida Middle School. She was among 35 Colorado State Finalists shooting for their chance to shoot in the West Central Region 8 Hoop Shoot Semi-Finals in Colorado Springs, Colo., on March 14, where they will be going against the top kids from Kansas, Wyoming and Nebraska. 

GoodTracks was in the 10-11 girls Division with six other girls coming from Loveland, La Junta, Deer Trail, Northglenn and Leadville. She made 15 of 25 free throws, 5 of 10 the first round and 10 of 15 the 2nd round, earning her the 3rd place spot, but just missing out on a shoot out with Devrah Muth of La Junta, Colo., and Caroline Kooman of Northglenn, Colo., who both made 17 of 25 free throws. Muth would eventually win the shoot out and Kooman would take 2nd place. 

Sakarii would like to thank everyone who supported her throughout her Elk Hoop Shoot journey, and would like to thank Oscar Cosio for nudging her to join by sending the flyer to her parents. She looks forward to trying to further her journey next year and will continue to put in work on her free throws.