A Toronto man’s basketball skills have earned him free flights for a year after he hit a mid-court shot at a local game.
Tyson Taylor participated in the promotion held by Flair Airlines at the Niagara River Lions – Fraser Valley Bandits game on Monday night.
The Alberta-based budget airline hosts the event at every Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) game. Those chosen to take part in the challenge, branded “Shot From The Dot”, take two shots of the Flair logo: the first from the inside of the midcourt line and the second from the outside.
After Taylor missed the first shot and a chance to win a round-trip ticket to the CEBL Championship weekend in Ottawa, the pressure was on.
The amateur player then stepped back behind the half-court line for the final attempt.
After a few dribbles and concentrated breaths, Taylor tossed the ball onto the hardwood and sank the shot into a crowd of screaming fans.
Taylor was rushed by his friends in celebration, including Memphis Grizzly and Mississauga native Dillon Brooks.
“After I missed the first shot and heard the crowd and saw people doubting me, it made me want to hit the second shot even more,” Taylor said in an interview after the shot.
“I knew I was going to hit the second shot 100 percent,” he said.
Taylor is only the second person to get the shot out of 156 fans who have already taken part in the challenge.
BC resident Malcolm Williams was the first to win last week. He came home with both CEBL championship tickets and a year of free travel after successfully making both buckets.
Taylor now faces the not-so-difficult task of choosing where to fly first among Flair’s dozens of routes, but it looks like Florida is already on the brain.
“We’re going to Miami for sure! I got to celebrate in South Beach,” Taylor said with a laugh.