Big Sky tour nears end for 'TJ'

Not quite a year ago, Tiana Johnson scored 14 points for Idaho against Northern Arizona, in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game played in Flagstaff last March 4.

In so doing she ran her collegiate point total to 1,017 points — one more than Tryg Johnson, her father, scored for Montana State from 1981-85.

The younger Johnson is still playing — because of the extra time pandemic, she is at the tail end of her fifth season in the Big Sky and second at Idaho, where she transferred after playing three seasons at Sacramento State.

The 2017 Flathead High graduate had 1,297 career points heading her final two regular-season games: Weber State Saturday, and then against the Montana Lady Griz Monday night on Robin Selvig Court in Missoula.

Then will come the Big Sky Conference tournament in Boise, Idaho.

On Friday Johnson talked with the Daily Inter Lake about her basketball career, her chosen profession, David Spade vehicles, her favorite athlete(s) and a few other topics, like how to pronounce the name of Idaho Vandals star Beyonce Bea (BAY-yontz Bee)::

DIL: When we last talked, in June of 2020, you were in Kalispell taking online classes from Sacramento State during the pandemic. When did you get back on campus?

TJ: I went back at the end of August, for basketball. I didn’t actually go to a classroom, but I went to campus for basketball. We were learning online from fall of 2020 to 2021.

DIL: What led you to leave Sac State? Was it the coaching change?

TJ: No, I knew there’d be a coaching change before I entered the portal. But I was ready to move on and find something new. Also Idaho had a master’s program that I was interested in. It seemed like as good a time as any.

DIL: So there was no contact with incoming coach Mark Campbell?

TJ: I was in the portal before our coach (Bunky Harkleroad) was not renewed on his contract. I was out of there and already signed before they hired (Campbell).

DIL: And then you land at Idaho? Had Coach Jon Newlee been on your radar before, or vice versa?

TJ: We had talked a little bit when I was in high school. And then I had some AAU teammates that played at Idaho (Allison Kirby, Nina Carlson and Fairfield’s Natalie Klinker), and I kept in touch with them. When I knew when I was going to leave, I sent a text to one of their assistants. They didn’t know what girls were coming back for them, so they were kind of waiting. I talked to a few other schools, but when I found Idaho was interested, I pretty much made that decision right then.

DIL: Your last season at Sac State the Hornets won just three games, but the third win was a doozie, over Montana at the Big Sky tourney. Is that a highlight?

TJ: That was really fun; that was nice. It was kind of a nice way to finish out my career at Sac State. We had fun that time.

DIL: I know your career isn’t over, but are there other highlights?

TJ: I think the last two years being here at Idaho have been great. I’ve really enjoyed the coaching staff and my teammates. I’m really going to miss these girls. We all get along so well.

I've been meeting more people here than I did at Sacramento. That’s been good also.

DIL: I also went to college for six years, and yet I somehow don’t have a degree. How many do you have?

TJ: (Laughs) I know, right? I feel like I should be doing my doctorate. But I'm just on my master’s (in Dietetics), and I’m ready to be done. (Laughs) I’m tired of school. I’ll be done in the spring.

DIL: So what do you want to be?

TJ: I’d like to be a registered dietician, and a sports dietician for a college. I was able to work over at Washington State this last fall as part of my program and working with the athletes was really fun. I really enjoyed it.

DIL: Do you still have friends on the roster at Sacramento?

TJ: I still keep in touch with my older teammates here and there, and one of my coaches I still keep in contact with. But not really. Plus all of my old teammates are not on the team any more. So I don’t really know anybody there.

DIL: I notice the Hornets are having possibly their best year as a women’s program (they beat Montana State Thursday for their school-record 20th win). Did you notice, and does it mean much?

TJ: I did see that. … I don’t really care. It’s a whole new coaching staff, whole new team. It took them two whole years to get the team. I feel like I don’t really have a connection there, and I’m really happy here. I’m good.

DIL: How about a speed round? Favorite athlete? And it's OK to say Beyonce Bea.

TJ: (Laughs) I’m just a huge fan of the whole US womens soccer team. So probably every athlete on that team is probably my favorite.

DIL: Did you play soccer in high school?

TJ: No, I played volleyball. It was probably after that 2019 World Cup that I got really into it. I watch all their games now.

DIL: Favorite movie?

TJ: Emperor’s New Groove.

DIL: That’s not one I would have guessed.

TJ: I know, right?

DIL: Favorite stop on the Big Sky schedule.

TJ: That’s a good question… I’ll just say Boise because it’s tournament time. And Boise’s fun, and it’s cool. I will say playing at all the gyms my dad played in is pretty cool. Knowing I’m playing all the same arenas he played in is fun.

DIL: I should ask you about Missoula, which is where Idaho plays Monday.

TJ: I’m excited. It’s always fun to go to my home state. Even though it’s not my town, I can say, ‘Oh yeah, Montana, this is my home.’ I’m thankful to have people come out and see me.

DIL: So your fan base will be showing up Monday?

TJ: (Laughs), well, my fan base is basically my parents and their friends. But I have a few buddies that are able to come out and see me, so that’s fun.