Largemouth invited news anchors, reporters and radio personalities to compete in a free throw contest on behalf of one of the beneficiary charities in the Battle for Bean Street. Up for grabs was a chance to win an extra 1,000 cups (a.k.a. “points”) toward the charity of their choice. With a 1,500 cup distance between NC State in second place and UNC in first at the time of the competition, the points could have been a real game changer. The response from media celebrities was astounding! There were so many celebrities interested that we had to split the competition into two divisions!

Making 7 out of 10 free throw shots, NBC 17 Anchor Penn Holderness won the Division One game on behalf of UNC and UNC Build a Block. Just to prove how big basketball is in the area, he even came early to the event in order to make it to a UNC viewing party he was hosting for friends and family afterward.

Tracey Early, News 14 Carolina anchor, and Scott Dean, ABC 11 Meteorologist, competed against Penn on behalf of Duke and NC State, respectively. Tracey and Scott were even able to meet with representatives of the charities they were representing and learn first hand about the causes they were shooting for.

Kay Yow Cancer Fund representative Sarah Reese won the Division Two game on behalf of NC State and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund by making 8 out of 10 free-throw shots. Sarah beat out Lori Wiggins, reporter for the News & Observer, shooting on behalf of her alma mater UNC, and Billy Dukes, radio personality on QDR, shooting on behalf of Duke and the Duke Cancer Institute.

While the celebrities were shooting on behalf of their favorite charity, I was able to talk and connect with them in a much more personal way than if they had just come to cover the event. It is truly heart warming to hear from so many local celebrities that are willing to do a little extra to help support some great causes. We even received requests to stay in touch as they would like to help again in the future!

All in all, the spirit of competition proved to be a way to amp up the energy, but perhaps the greater spirit of the event was that of giving back.