He Won AGAIN! St. George Boy Headed To The National Championship!
St. George 9-Year Old, Hendrix Lay has JUST WON the Western United States Elk's Hoop Shoot, and he is now headed to the National Championship in Chicago this April! Hendrix, a local 3rd grader, celebrated his 9th birthday in Las Vegas this weekend by winning the Western Division of the Elk's Hoop Shoot. Hendrix knocked down 22 of 25 shots on his way to beat out kids from Nevada, California, Hawaii, and Arizona.
The kids from Nevada, California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Utah were all sent out to Las Vegas where they were put up in a hotel for two nights. The boys and their families were also treated to a pizza party, bowling party, and each received their own custom sweatsuits with their names and respective states they represent.
After Hendrix won, he was beaming with pride, and received his medal and MASSIVE trophy! Hendrix had a big turnout of family members show up to support him, but little does he know, he has even more Southern Utahn's cheering him on, whom he's never even met!
WHAT'S NEXT?:
With Hendrix winning this division, he's now headed to the National Championship in Chicago, Illinois, April 18-21st. The contest will take place in Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA Team, Chicago Sky. Hendrix and the other contestants will be put up in hotels, have parties, and will also be going to a Chicago Cubs baseball game at Historic Wrigley Field!
HISTORY MADE:
Hendrix could be the 5th child from Utah to win the National Championship, and the 2nd from St. George. Utah hasn't had a National Championship title since 8/9 year old Cole Pentelupe of Provo in 2014. Cole knocked down 23 of 25 shots.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM UTAH:
- Morgan Warburton - Price - 2001
- Kaden King - Richfield - 2004
- Brenden Truman - St. George - 2005
- Kaden King - Richfield - 2006
- Cole Pentelupe - Provo - 2014
What an exciting time for Hendrix and his family! Hendrix has his eye on the prize and we'll all be rooting him on back at home!
***PRIOR STORY ABOUT HENDRIX LAY***
St. George Boy Wins State Championship, One Win Away From Nationals!
It's been a fun 2024 for St. George 8 year old, Hendrix Lay. He saw a flyer at the St. George Rec Center about a "Hoop Shoot", and he told his parents he wanted to compete. He did compete... and he won! He's beat out kids his age, then kids around town, then kids across Southern Utah, and last weekend he won the entire championship for the state of Utah!
Last weekend in Provo, Utah, Hendrix sunk 21 of 25 free throws clinching his first Utah State Championship title, a feat he'll remember for life. This Saturday, February 24th is Hendrix's 9th Birthday, but he'll be celebrating a little differently this year. Not only is Saturday his birthday, but it's also his next big competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hendrix will be competing against a handful of kids that won their respective State Championships. We'll see kids from the Western United States like Hawaii, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and of course, Hendrix representing Utah.
Hendrix, the other State Champions, and their families will be put up in a hotel this Friday night in Las Vegas, with bowling and a pizza party to celebrate their big accomplishments. Hendrix and the other children will receive their very own custom sweatsuit at the party as well. Saturday morning, at a Las Vegas high school, the kids will compete and the winner will punch their ticket to the National Championship in Chicago, Illinois. If Hendrix makes it to Nationals, and WINS Nationals, his picture will be up with his name at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Speaking to Hendrix tonight he told me "Guess how many free throws I made in a row today? 51!" When asking Hendrix if he's nervous, he always tells you "A little. But I like the pressure!" Well, the pressure is indeed on for Hendrix this weekend in Las Vegas, but we're all pushing for him and believing in him!
Hendrix comes from a basketball family, too! His Grandpa, Steve Hoagland, was a high school and college standout, playing his college ball at Southern Utah University. Hendrix's Dad, JC, and Grandpa, Cole, each played ball for the Dixie Flyers. Hendrix's Great Grandpa Don is past Dixie Flyers Baseball and Basketball coach Don Lay. He won 3 State Championships with the Dixie Flyers in the 1970's, and the baseball field is appropriately named Don Lay Flyer Field. Coach Lay would be over the moon to be watching Hendrix today, but we're sure he'll be watching the Hoop Shoot from the other side.
A HOT New Restaurant Is Coming To St. George. It Looks DELISH!
A new restaurant is coming to St. George and some aren't surprised to learn it's a chicken restaurant. Apparently, in St. George, we have an influx of Soda Shops, Cookie Shops, Car Washes, and Chicken Restaurants. This new place looks pretty intriguing though.
Houston's Hot Chicken!
This will mark the 16th HHC location across the US sprawling from Texas to Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Washington and Idaho. On their website they claim to have been Las Vegas' Top Place to Eat on Yelp in 2021
WHAT'S ON THE MENU?
- Chicken Sandwiches
- Chicken Tenders
- Salads
- Fries
- Milkshakes
- Cookies
- and even Alcohol
One thing I don't love about their sauces is that you have to pay for them... WHAT?! $1.00 for ranch with my chicken?! Not a fan of that! Hopefully those are just ADDITIONAL sauces, instead of just sauce in general.
BEER MENU:
On HHC's website, they post about their craft beers. I'm not POSITIVE if the St. George location will be serving beer or not (Because St. George, ya know), but possibly!
WHERE WILL HOUSTON'S HOT CHICKEN BE LOCATED?
Houston's Hot Chicken will be located in the past location of Crack Shack off Bluff Street and Black Ridge Drive behind the Maverik. Their address is 1216 South Bluff Street in St. George.
WHEN WILL HOUSTON'S HOT CHICKEN BE HERE?
According to their website it appears their grand opening date is March 9, 2024. We're less than a month away from Houston's Hot Chicken in St. George!
Instead of whining about ANOTHER chicken restaurant coming to town... Let's give this once a chance. If you don't love it after trying it, that's fine. But we should stop shaming restaurants and new businesses BEFORE we've even tried them out.
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