Ben Tanke is the most recent Wallside Windows Bank Shot Challenge winner.
Ben Tanke was not throwin’ away his shot – at free Wallside Windows. That’s for sure.
The Grand Valley State University student had no idea how memorable his night would be when he attended the Detroit Pistons game on Nov. 12, 2022 against the Boston Celtics. He left the game that night a veritable viral video star.
Ben and his girlfriend Maddie Johnson – who gifted him tickets to the game for his birthday - arrived at Little Caesar’s Arena early. They were wandering the shops about 45 minutes before the tip-off when they were approached by a few people in full Detroit Pistons gear who asked if he’d like to participate in the Wallside Windows Bank Shot Challenge. It’s a half-court shot that can earn the winner a house full of new windows.
Ben Tanke (shown with girlfriend Maddie Johnson above) couldn’t believe it when he made a half-court shot in the Wallside Windows Bank Shot Challenge and won $10,000 worth of new vinyl replacement windows.
“I said of course and signed the documents,” Ben recalls. “The rest of the time before the game started I was very nervous. I couldn’t think about anything else. The selection was completely random and I couldn’t believe that we were in the right spot at the right time to get chosen!”
The couple spent the entire first quarter of the game in the front row waiting for the big moment.
Ben Tanke expressed his joy after making a half-court shot at a recent Detroit Pistons game, where he won the Wallside Windows Bank Shot Challenge.
“It was very cool to be that close to the game,” Ben says. “Walking onto the court was wild, seeing a basically full arena on a Saturday night and being in the middle of it. Just being a Pistons and basketball fan in general, it was very cool to be out there so close to the players and on the court.”
Ben admits he played basketball, baseball and football while in high school. Now that he’s in college, he regularly participates in intramural sports. But he hadn’t shot a basketball in over 6 months before heading to the game. And the chance of making a half-court shot is one in 100.
Walking onto the court that night, he thought there was no way he’d make the shot.
“The first three-pointer I attempted I made sure to put a lot of muscle behind it because the NBA three-pointer is deeper than normal,” Ben says. “I basically bricked it off the backboard and wasn’t even close. When the ball left my hand for the half-court shot, I thought it looked pretty good - and that there was a chance. As it went in, I was so surprised and couldn’t even believe it!”
And that moment was all captured in a video. You can see the absolute joy.
“After that it was just pure excitement that I had made it in front of all of those people,” Ben adds. “On my way out I was told by multiple people that that moment was the loudest the arena had been in a long time. Walking back to my seat I got so many fist bumps and high-fives and the section I walked up cheered as I walked by.”
And his big moment didn’t end there.
“Before I even got to my seat the video was going viral,” Ben says. “My buddies were sending me links of the video posted by the Detroit Pistons, ESPN, NBA and other popular accounts before I could even sit down. It was so cool to see my face out there as everyone shared and reacted to it on many different platforms. I still to this day get a really good feeling re-watching the video and remembering that night. Walking out after the game, I had tons of people chanting nice shot in the concourse - and even had people stopping me to take pictures!”
He became a celebrity for a night – all due to the Wallside Windows Bank Shot Challenge.
The Bank Shot Challenge is a program created by community partners Wallside Windows and the Detroit Pistons. Any winner stands to earn the equivalent of $10,000 in new home replacement windows courtesy of Wallside Windows.
Because Ben is still in college - and not yet a home owner - Wallside Windows is presenting him with a certificate to use within two years for new windows. Wallside Windows and the Detroit Pistons will allow Ben to gift his winnings to an immediate member of his family if he chooses to do so.
“Hopefully it will be helpful to repay a family member for everything they have done for me,” Ben says.
Is your home in need of new replacement windows? No basketball skills necessary. Contact Wallside Windows for a free estimate. Schedule yours today.
