Tongue River Middle School Principal To Shoot Free Throws For WY Special Olympics

The free throw line in basketball is also referred to as the charity stripe, and one Sheridan County School Principal will be standing at the line for charity.

As part of a friendly fundraising battle, Jeff Jones, who is the principal at Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester, will take to the court Friday (February 25th) beginning at 6am, as he will shoot free throws until he makes 4,000 of them.

He says he’s doing it as part of a fundraising effort for Special Olympics Wyoming, and it’s part of a fundraising competition against Tongue River Elementary School.

Although the middle school has the older students, they are outnumbered by the elementary school students, by a 2-to-1 margin.

As far as why he chose to do free throws, Jones says he grew up in a small town in Montana where the school gym was open 24-7, and he spent a lot of time.

“I’ve spent a lot of time at the free throw line, you might say just shooting free throws and learn to have a bond with the free throw line. It helps me process, helps me think. I can put away a lot of hours, just standing there shooting free throws, and kind of like a long distance runner, they talk about losing track of time, kind of the same for me when I’m at the free throw line.”

According to the math, if Jones makes 1 free throw every 10-point-8 seconds, it would take him 12 hours to make 4,000

The winner of the fundraising competition between the two schools will be announced on Saturday, March 5th at the Jackalope Jump at the Goose Valley Fire Department.

Representatives from whichever school loses the competition have to make the jump.

Jones says currently, neither school knows which one is winning.

For those who wish to donate to Special Olympics Wyoming in the name of Tongue River Middle School, you can call the school at 307-655-9533.

If you wish to donate to Special Olympics Wyoming in the name of Tongue River Elementary School, you can call the school at 307-655-2206.