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YOUTH WINS PEPSI/NBA HOTSHOT NATIONAL CROWN

Lisa Bullock of Indianapolis, IN. recently won the National Championship of the Pepsi/NBA Hotshot finals held in Kansas City, MO. She is the first black female Hotshot National Champion in the 16-18 age category since the inception of the program in 1976. 

The Pepsi/NBA Hotshot program is a year-round basketball skills competition in which contestants are given three, one-minute rounds to accumulate as many points as possible by sinking baskets from five designated areas on the court called "Hotspots". Each "Hotspot" is worth a different point value. The program, which is the longest running and largest youth skills program in the country, has just completed its ninth year. Young people from over 1,800 youth service organizations participated in Hotshot's six categories of competition. The categories are: Girls 9-12, 13-15, 16-18 and Boys 9-12, 13-15, 16-18. Bullock took high honors in the girls, 16-18 group. She advanced to the National Championships by winning competitions at: Hill Playground, Hill Center, the Indianapolis playoffs and the Indiana Finals.

Representing the Indiana Pacers, Bullock who has been a participant in the Hotshot program since she was thirteen, 'out shot' contestants from 22 other NBA cities to become the National Champion. In recognition of her accomplishments, Lisa's name will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame along with the names of other Pepsi/NBA Hotshot National Champions. She was also honored by the Pacers during halftime of their April 8 match against the Chicago Bulls. Bullock is 18-years-old and is a senior at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. She will attend Indiana University at Bloomington in the Fall of '86.

Lisa had the following to say about her Hotshot experience: "I practiced every day to reach the National Championships, but it was worth it because I got the chance to make new friends as I advanced from competition to competition. I met kids from New York, Chicago, and Kansas City and I liked that. I would encourage more kids to get into the program so that they could have the same opportunity."

The Pepsi/NBA Hotshot program is sponsored by Pepsi Cola USA and Pepsi Bottlers and is conducted by local parks and recreation departments and other youth organizations in conjunction with the National Basketball Association. 

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WINNING SHOT--Lisa Bullock, National Champion of the Pepsi/NBA Hotshot basketball skills program in the girls 16-18-year-old category, receives an award from basketball great Oscar "Big O" Robertson. Lisa is the first black female to win a National Championship in the girls 16-18-year-old category since the program began nine years ago (1976).

Robertson, who played 14 years in the NBA and made 12 All-Star appearances before being elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, is the National Director of the Pepsi/NBA Hotshot program.

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