Lambertville Girl Sinks National Hoop Shoot Championship

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. — After advancing to the national stage, Marina Abou-Daoud of Lambertville delivered a performance that matched the quiet, steady rise that brought her there in the first place.

Competing at the Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals on April 18, she captured the national championship in dramatic fashion, winning through two pressure-packed tiebreakers that had the entire arena on edge.

Every shot mattered, and when the moment demanded it most, she stayed locked in, one routine, one breath, one shot at a time, just as she had throughout her run from local to regional champion.

With the crowd leaning in and the tension building, Marina’s composure never wavered. She let her game speak for itself, finishing the way she started, focused, steady, and unforgettable. With this victory, Marina’s name will be permanently displayed at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.

Back home in Lambertville where she attends South Hunterdon Regional Elementary School, the echoes of those final shots carried well beyond the court. It was felt in driveways, schoolyards, and gyms where her run has already become something kids try to recreate, one free throw at a time.

And in the middle of all the excitement, she’s still the same kid, quick to smile, first to cheer on others, and already asking when she can get back in the gym.

“It feels great, especially playing a game I love," Marina said of her accomplishment. "It’s cool to see that my practice and hard work made a difference. It was such a fun experience and I met a lot of nice people too.”

In addition to playing hoops with the Lambertville Basketball Association and AAU HBA Spartans Travel Basketball, she plays recreational soccer, takes ballet, enjoys horseback riding, and is a member of the Girl Scouts.

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