The Aberdeen boys and girls basketball players used their talents this month to raise money for needy families. Each one solicited pledges and then became a Shooting Santa, attempting 50 free throws with donations coming in for each free throw made or for a set amount.

The team raised more than $5,000 with two freshmen from the Eagles’ junior varsity teams collecting exceptional amounts. Brook-Lynn Williams raised $646.73 while Troy Quay Malloy brought in $569.

The Eagles weren’t the only ones getting into the act. Players from Joppatowne, Harford Tech and Perryville were also Shooting Santas and the four teams together brought in nearly $9,000. The Shooting Santas Foundation, started 10 years ago by Aberdeen girls coach Mike Blizzard, raised enough money to help seven needy families in Harford and Cecil counties this holiday season.

The players shop for the families and deliver the gifts themselves.

"It's an emotionally moving experience for them," Blizzard said. "Our goal is not only to help the families, but we're trying to create a younger generation that wants to do something similar when they're adults."

Blizzard would like to get all schools in the Harford/Cecil Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference involved in the program.

--Katherine Dunn and Jeff Seidel