The atmosphere was festive, and the competition stiff, at Monday’s Knights of Columbus annual free throw tournament at the Boys & Girls Club in Washington.

Girls and boys, ages 10 to 14, faced off to find out which contestant could sink the most baskets out of 15 shots allowed.

Each participating child was awarded a certificate, with winners in each category walking away with a trophy.

These winners prevailed in the following categories: 10-year-old girls, Briasia Somerville; 11-year-old girls, Keshayla Arthur; 12-year-old girls, Mekelya Blount; 10-year-old boys, Vernon Collins Jr.; 11-year-old boys, Rashod Smith; 12-year-old boys, Kevin White; 13-year-old boys, Jacquez Ruffin; and 14-year-old boys, Tajmal Peele. There were no competitors in the girls’ 13- and 14-year-old age brackets.

Each of these winners will go to the district championship in New Bern then, if they make it through that round, to the state championship to be held in Burlington on March 29.

According to the free throw competition’s official guide, in 2013, over 344,000 children participated in over 4,700 local contests, which are held across the U.S. and internationally.

The local council — one of 14,000 worldwide — has been hosting the Washington free throw competition for over 20 years.

According to Knights of Columbus Chancellor Mike Malloy, while the number of participants has waned over the past several years, the Knights have plans to beef up the competition once more. He said having the children from Belhaven Boys & Girls Club travel to the contest was a welcome addition.