Two boys, ages 8-11, won the first round of competition in the Elk Hoop Shoot free-throw contest at the Twentynine Palms Junior High School Sunday, December 14, and were named Twentynine Palms champions. In the boys’ division, the winners were in the 8-9 year age division, Robert Russ; and in the 10-11 year division, Joseph Barbagallo. The two champions now advance to the district finals, where they will compete with other winners from throughout the area. The district competition will be January 10 at the Joe Wine Recreation Center in Blythe.