BREWER – A Brewer High School sophomore discovered the benefit of hanging around with friends in a gym when he nailed his second half-court shot in less than a week Friday.

Ryan McLaughlin sank a halfcourt shot at halftime of the Brewer-Nokomis boys basketball game Tuesday at Brewer High as part of a fund-raising contest and won $100. Student council members Jon Dearborn and Andy Geaghan asked McLaughlin to try it again on Friday when the whole student body would have a chance to watch during a pep rally recognizing Brewer’s winter sports teams.

“They explained what had happened Tuesday and called him down on Friday [to try the shot]. Everyone was cheering him on,” Brewer High principal Jerry Goss said. “He just reared back and let it go.”

The shot went off the board and in while Tuesday’s swished through the net.

“The kids gave him a standing ovation [on Friday]. Just to see the smile on his face – money can’t buy anything like that,” Goss said. “It’s really an amazing accomplishment.”

McLaughlin, a member of Brewer High’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams, said he has always liked shooting long-range shots and spends time in the gym when he can.

“We get to shoot around in the gym sometimes. I just like getting together with my buddies and flinging up the ball,” he said.

McLaughlin admitted to being a little nervous before attempting the shots.

“All you can do is throw it up and hope it goes in. You never really know from that distance,” he said. “I just wanted to send everyone home happy [on Friday].”

He went home happy, too.

“I got a standing ovation from the whole school. It made me feel great,” he said.

To qualify for Tuesday’s halfcourt shot, students purchased raffle tickets from the student council for its fund-raiser. McLaughlin said he purchased 40 for $10. His name was then drawn at halftime. The student council asked him to try it again Friday and said if he sank the shot, he would be awarded a ticket to the school’s semi-formal that night.