Tripp Johnson hit 24 of 25 free-throws to win the 12-13 year-old boys’ division at the Elks Region 2 Hoop Shoot at the Rapid City Christian gym last Saturday.
Johnson, the son of Michelle and Tel Johnson, will compete against 11 other regional champions at the Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals on April 20 in Chicago. The national champion from each division is enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Elks Region 2 Hoop Shoot pits the state champions from Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Johnson edged out his nearest competitor who hit 23 of 25 shots. He then won the boys’ Best of the Best award, which is given to the shooter who hit the most free throws in all divisions. North Dakota’s Jackson Newcomer also hit 24 free throws. Johnson and Newcomer each hit 5-of-5 each over five straight tiebreakers before Johnson outlasted the 8-9 year old winner, Newcomer.
Johnson won the Hot Springs Elks Lodge # 1751 contest in January and the state championship on February 3 in Pierre.
South Dakota had one other champion advance to the National Finals. Camden Cadwell from Volga hit 23 of 25 free throws to win his division.
For more information about the Hoop Shoot, please visit elks.org.
(Courtesy Photos)
