Otago just missed out on a victory in Hamilton, falling four runs short after being set a target of 312 to win.
The failure to win has left Otago struggling in second-last on the Plunket Shield table, just one point ahead of Canterbury.
Northern Districts leads on 83 points - Otago has 34 - and with just three rounds to play the Volts are effectively playing for pride.
Despite that Johnson said there was still much to play for.
"In terms of what individuals can do then there is still a lot to play for. We can play some solid four-day cricket and we still have two games at home and we want to play well there," Johnson said.
"We need to make sure we do that and finish mid-table and that will be an improvement on last year."
Otago has been struggling for runs right throughout the season, with just three batting bonus points, but Johnson could not fault the application shown by his team in Hamilton.
Hamish Rutherford scored centuries in both innings while Craig Cumming and Neil Broom also got among the runs.
"It does not help when the opposition has a negative mindset almost from the start. We looked like the only side who wanted to win."
Johnson said in the final 10 overs the Northern Districts team was bowling a metre down either side of the wicket, and had seven men on the boundary.
"That was disappointing but you can't complain about things that you can't control I suppose.
The thing was if we were on a roll and winning then we would have probably found a way to win no matter what."
Northern Districts coach Grant Bradburn could not be contacted.
Johnson was full of praise for Rutherford, saying he had played very well and put together two fine innings.
Aaron Redmond remains on the outer but with injuries could get back into the side.There were a couple of players with niggles within the squad but nothing serious.
The team had remained in the North Island and would play Auckland at Colin Maiden Oval, starting on Friday.
The final two games of the season are against Canterbury and Wellington, both at the University Oval.
