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March 25, 2008

World’s best free-throw artist comes here

By Travina Coleman

He dribbles, he shoots and he scores — 100 free throws in four minutes.

Coach, minister and world-record free-throw holder, Jeff Liles is visiting the First Church of the Nazarene in Muskogee during its first 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament at 4 p.m. Friday at the church.

First Nazarene Associate Youth Pastor Monty Nichols said Liles is a personal friend who can achieve some amazing goals and help show others how they can do the same.

“He is awesome,” Nichols said. “He has the desire to show people how they can achieve great things.”

Liles attributes his motivation to his youth, sitting on a bench during a middle school basketball game. After the game, he and his father evaluated the situation, which led Liles to get a basketball goal. He said he practiced every day with the goal of making 100 free throws. He finally did it after four hours. And the next year in high school, he never sat on the bench again.

“We are very excited to have Jeff come,” Nichols said. “No one really knows what to think yet, because we have never done this before. The kids are excited to have this kind of activity, and if it all goes the way I think it will, it could be the first of many more to come.”

Nichols said this tournament is among a few of the new and fresh ideas to try and impact the community in a positive way, from youth to adults.

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