HOT SPRINGS - In the 36 year history of the Elks National "Hoop Shoot" Finals, only four South Dakotans have ever earned the title of national champion. The most recent is Hot Springs' Matthew Monfore, who earned the Boys Age 12-13 title April 26 in Springfield, Mass., home of the National Basketball Hall of Fame.

What does it take to be a National Champion? For Monfore, who is the son of Jay and Charlene Monfore of Hot Springs, it took hours of practice and lots of support from his family.

"I really didn't expect to make it all the way to Springfield," he said in an interview following the annual Elks Club banquet held at the Hot Springs American Legion on May 8. Monfore had competed in the local and state "Hoop Shoot" competitions since the age of 9, but had never qualified to move past the state competition. "Coming into middle school this year, I was just really motivated and determined to make myself better," he said. "The high school teams had not been doing very well in sports and that motivated me to want to change things." That determination meant shooting free throws everyday on his hoop in the backyard, usually for several hours at a time. "I would usually shoot until I made 25 or 30 in a row," he said. "But that would a lot of times take about two hours to do." That consistency certainly paid off as he made 23 of 25 free throws at the local contest in Hot Springs on Dec. 7. He followed that up with a 22 of 25 performance, plus a 4 of 5 in a shoot-out, for first place at the state finals in Sioux Falls on Jan. 19. At the region finals in Rapid City on March 1, Monfore again made 22 of 25 to win first place and earn a trip to last month's nationals in Massachusetts, where he saved his best for last. With three other national competitors from New York, Georgia and Nebraska making 23 of 25, Monfore made an amazing 24 of 25 to win the national title outright, which included making his last 20 attempts in a row. Making the all-expense-paid-trip, courtesy of the Elks Club, along with Matthew was his father Jay and his grandfather Jim Monfore of Armour. Matthew said having his dad, who he said suffers from Parkinson's Disease, attend the tournament with him was the highlight of the entire experience. "I really look up to my dad," Matthew said. "He was a really good athlete and was All-State in both track and basketball in Miller." Those two sports also happen to be Matthew's first loves, however, he is currently unable to determine which he likes more. When asked who some other of Matthew's role models were, he mentioned former Hot Springs High School standout Joe Beehler, along with basketball greats Steve Nash and Steve Alford. Nash is a current Phoenix Suns basketball player, while Alford is a former Indiana University basketball great and current New Mexico University head coach. "I like Alford because he came from a small town and really made it to the upper levels of his sport," he said. It was perhaps by destiny then that Monfore got a chance to not only meet one of his role models at the National "Hoop Shoot," but also compete against his role model's son. "Yeah, I got to meet Steve Alford and his son was even in my division." Bryce Alford, of Albuquerque, N.M., shot 21 of 25 to place sixth overall in the 12-13 division. Past Elks "Hoop Shoot" National Champions from South Dakota include T.J. Gusso of Madison in 1983 (age 8-9), Corey Halstenson of Sioux Falls in 1984 (age 8-9) and Matthew Ihler of Madison in 1999 (age 12-13). South Dakota's first national champion T.J. Gusso, now of Spearfish, said it was an experience he will never forget. "The Elks really take care of you at this tournament," said Gusso in a recent phone interview from his office at First Western Bank in Spearfish. "It was an amazing experience. I competed in Market Square Arena which is where the Indiana Pacers played their games. I was even presented my trophy by John Havlicek (former Boston Celtic great)." Over 3 million boys and girls aged 8-13 compete in the Elks "Hoop Shoot" each year. Following the local, state and regional competitions, 12 youth in each of the three divisions then qualify to attend the national tournament each year, which has been held in the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Mass., since 1996. "This is really a 'Wow' event," said South Dakota 'Hoop Shoot' State Director Seb Axtman at last week's local Hot Springs Elks banquet. "That's all I can say, 'Wow.' Matthew just did an amazing job. When you look at his percentages over the course of his four tournaments including the local, state, regions and nationals, he made over 90 percent of his shots. Wow." For his 'wow' efforts, Monfore not only has a room full of trophies and awards, but he also has the esteemed honor of having his name engraved on a plaque at the National Basketball Hall of Fame.