He swooshed in 22 of 25 free throws this weekend to become the Regional Champion of the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest in Garden Plain, Kansas. He is Briggs Jewell, a 14-year-old eighth grader at South Barber in Kiowa, Kansas, who plays with the SB Junior High Tornadoes.

Jewell will proudly wear the Tornado colors of blue and gold when he competes at the state competition in Salina, Kansas, March 1.

He is the son of Justin and Danielle Jewell of Kiowa. When asked where Briggs gets his basketball talent, mom quickly replied, "Justin was definitely the basketball player – not me. Justin played basketball at Burlington under Coach (Randy) Turney. They made three state appearances in his four years of high school, winning state runner-up one year.

"Ever since Briggs was little, he was in a gym shooting baskets. With two older brothers, he just wanted to do everything they were doing, so he started attending camps with them when he was actually too young to go."

Jewell attended Burlington Public School from PK to 6th grade until his family moved to Kiowa.

When asked how many baskets he shoots per week, Jewell estimated 800. Does he get nervous during competitions or games, Jewell replied, "Not really. I stay calm."

His personal goals are to "always try to beat myself from last time and always get better." When he misses a free throw, how does Jewell react? "I correct what I did wrong and hope the next one goes in."

How did the Tornadoes do this season? "We had a pretty good year and had some close games."