SIKESTON SHOOTERS QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

SIKESTON -- A pair of basketball sharpshooters from Sikeston have qualified for the 199 Don Nelson-Tara VanDeveer International Shootout National Championship May 15-16 in Las Vegas.

Troey Sitzes and Amanda Metzger, both sophomores at Sikeston High School, will represent Missouri after qualify with impressive performances during the state competition held in Jefferson City in March.

The competition was created to determine the best amateur shooters at the local, state and national levels. And to triumph, the shooter had to be proficient at both free throws and 3-point shots.

Each participant starts at the local level, getting 25 attempts from the foul line and 25 attempts from the 3-point line from five different locations.

Out of a total 100 possible points, Sitzes posted 77 points at Jefferson City to qualify for Vegas.

"It's going to be exciting," he said. "I'm just looking to do my best -- hopefully that will be enough to win. I didn't think I would make it past state, so I'm just happy to be going. I've never been (to Vegas) before; this is a really big deal to me."

Metzger, who like Sitzes will compete in the 15-17-year-old age division, finished with 66 points.

"It's going to take a lot more at Las Vegas," said Metzger. "I looked up the scores from last year and there were 98s. I've got a lot of practice to do."

The top 10 shooters from each state were invited to Las Vegas.