×

Jump for Joy

DES MOINES – In the end, regardless of the pressures and mounting stress at the state tournament, basketball is still just a game at its core.

Players are supposed to have fun on the court. Fans should enjoy watching them perform.

The top-ranked (Class 3A) Pocahontas Area girls put on a show with Cherokee here Thursday that – above all else – brought a smile to the face of almost everyone in attendance.

And for many, the grins were also met with a head shake of utter disbelief.

The Indians cleared the century mark in a track meet for the ages at Wells Fargo Arena, prevailing 102-91 over the No. 4 Braves to reach the championship round for a second consecutive season. Junior all-stater Elle Ruffridge scored 36 points and teammate Payton Hjerleid added 35 for unbeaten PAC (26-0), which got everything it could handle and then some from the Braves (23-3) in a record-breaking performance by both programs.

”Right now, I’m just trying to catch my breath,” beamed Ruffridge, who added 10 assists, eight rebounds, three steals and a perfect 15 of 15 performance at the free throw line. ”I’m so proud of this team. Speechless, really. This was a very special game between two teams that really wanted it.”

Ruffridge then exclaimed, ”we’re going to the championship!”

The Indians made the most of the moment afterward, loudly celebrating in the hallway on their way to the locker room and greeting their loyal horde of fans – who made even more noise than they did – before settling into the postgame routine. They were exhausted and emotionally drained, but the adrenaline kept them going – just like it had in the fourth quarter moments earlier.

Pocahontas Area ended regulation play on a 22-6 run – the final push it needed to overcome a tenuous late deficit. Trailing 85-80 with 3:14 remaining, the Indians turned to their cross country legs – Ruffridge and fellow starters Grace and Faith Meyer are varsity harriers for the school’s Top-5 program in the fall – to help push them across the finish line.

”We do a lot of conditioning to prepare for situations like this. It’s not uncommon for the girls to be running the (Wells Fargo) halls before a game,” PAC head coach Robert Maske said. ”I think we’re at our most dangerous when we’re playing this (full-court running) style. There is a trust factor in our system that eventually, we’ll gain the upper-hand.

”Even (facing a five-point deficit more than midway through the fourth period), everyone was reminding each other that there was plenty of time and no need to panic. There is a special resilience with this group.”

Hjerleid, a junior who is new to the program this year after transferring from Decorah, made the most of just her second state tournament appearance. She sank 12 of 19 shots from the floor, including five three-point baskets, to establish a new career high for points scored.

”I’m just so thankful for the opportunity here; this is absolutely amazing,” Hjerleid said. ”There was so much energy out there, and we really fed off of it. I felt really good right away (in warm-ups), and was very confident that I could contribute (offensively) if the team needed me.

”I felt accepted right away when I got (to PAC), and I’m glad I could step up for us (at state). It’s an awesome feeling.”

Hjerleid drilled a triple, two foul shots and another trey in a 65-second flurry that made the 85-80 shortfall nothing more than a distant memory. Protecting a slim advantage in the final 1:40, the Indians were automatic at the charity stripe, with Ruffridge a perfect 8-for-8 and Grace Meyer – who had 15 points and 10 rebounds – going 4-for-4.

Cherokee made 31 baskets in all, but only one in the final three minutes and 34 seconds.

Senior Kaely Hummel paced the Braves with 35 points. Paityn Hagberg contributed 19, while Payton Slaughter chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds.

”This was the best basketball game I’ve ever been a part of, other than obviously (the end result),” Cherokee head coach Heath Hagberg said. ”It was one for the record books. I was very, very proud of our girls.”

The 193 total points established a new 5-on-5 tournament scoring mark. Ruffridge and Hjerleid became the first teammates ever to both reach 35 points in a single game, and the efforts of Ruffridge, Hjerleid and Hummel now all rank in the Top-7 on the individual charts.

Pocahontas Area, which had 83 points in the quarterfinals and averages over 80 points per contest, fell just two points shy of the 5-on-5 team record.

Now, the Indians get their shot at Nevada (23-3) in a championship rematch. The Cubs rallied to defeat PAC in last year’s final, 58-54.

Maske’s squad defeated Nevada on Jan. 15 in Pocahontas, 55-52.

”The first words out of our mouth (after the semifinal victory) were ‘unfinished business.’ That’s been a theme of ours all along,” Maske said.

Ruffridge concurred.

”We’ve wanted (to get back to the finals) so much, from literally the minute (last season’s championship) ended,” said Ruffridge, who has committed to play at Missouri State University. ”We’re ready.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today