A pair of Mt. Vernon Optimist youths put their hoops talents on display at New Castle Chrysler Fieldhouse.
Both Alivia Morgan and Ethan Starks were invited to partake in the Optimist Tri-Star Basketball state competition March 6. The event scores participants in passing, shooting and dribbling skills.
Morgan of the Fortville/Greenfield area placed third overall in the 8-year-old division. Starks, 10, was third in his age division.
The Optimist International program sponsors several Tri-Star sports skills contests for different types of athletics such as football, baseball, basketball and soccer.
The basketball competition was open to boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13.
Competitors for basketball began squaring off in January across the state to qualify for the state finals. Locally, the Mt. Vernon Optimist Club conducted its local competition in February.
Only first-place winners in each age division were asked to participate in the state final competition against other qualifying champions.
Morgan and Starks both won their age group in February to earn a spot at New Castle.
