Thirteen year old Tripp Johnson has advanced to the semi finals of the Elks Hoop Shoot which will be held in Rapid City on March 9. A seventh grader at Alliance St. Agnes Academy, he is the son of Tel and Michelle Johnson and has 2 brothers- Tee and Tyce.
The Elks Hoop Shoot is a free throw contest where shooters begin with a round of 10 shots, followed by 15, for a total of 25. There are 6 divisions, which includes boys and girls ages 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13. The boys 12-13 age group shoot with a 29.5″ basketball. Tripp has competed in each age division and has won at the lodge level in Nebraska and Wyoming, but due to a losing round or being unable to travel due to weather, he has never made it to state, except for when he competed this year.
Tripp advanced to state after earning first place by shooting 21/25 in Hot Springs, South Dakota on January 14. From there he traveled to Pierre, South Dakota for the state competition, earning first place shooting 22/25 free throws on February 3. Semi-finals will be held on March 9 in Rapid City. He will be competing against state winners from North Dakota and Montana. The winner of the this will move on to the finals in Chicago, to represent Region 2 out of 12 regions across the country.
Besides basketball, Tripp is also involved in other activities. They include: golf, football, piano, track and field, and playing baseball with the A-town Steamers and Bad Boys. Tripp began basketball at a very young age.
“I got a little basketball hoop when I was 7 months old and then a bigger one for my first birthday, as well, so for as long as I can remember, I’ve been playing basketball” says Johnson.
Tripp’s favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James being his favorite player, and his long term goal is to be a Marine Biologist.