—Photo courtesy Kara McKenzie Luke TerHark, an Algona grad, helped Truman State claim a conference title this year on the basketball court.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Luke TerHark knows there will come a time soon when he takes off his basketball jersey for the final time as a collegiate player.

Little did the former Algona High School standout know it would happen sooner than he had planned.

TerHark and Truman State claimed a spot in the NCAA Div. II Championships by winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament this past weekend with a thrilling 53-52 victory over Missouri-St. Louis.

However, the NCAA decided to cancel all remaining men’s and women’s events due to the ongoing concern of the spread of COVID-19.

“There will always be part of me that thinks ‘what if’ because of how special this team was,” TerHark said after hearing of the decision. “At the same time, my last basketball moment is cutting down a net and kissing a trophy, so there’s not many people who get to go out on a memory like that.

“This whole situation is much bigger than basketball, though, so it’s hard to be mad when sports become so irrelevant at a time like this.”

The victory marked the first-ever GLVC tournament title for Truman State (23-8 overall), adding to its regular season league crown. They were selected to the Midwest Region of the NCAA field.

“It’s a special feeling to have a regular season championship and now a conference tournament championship as well,” said TerHark before the tourney was scrapped. “To have more opportunities to make plays and memories in March is all every basketball player dreams of growing up.

“I love this game and I love my teammates. It’s a special group, so I can say this beats the heck out of sitting behind a desk and going to work every morning. I’m definitely enjoying my final moments before the real world.”

Truman State would have started play Saturday against Ferris State in Indianapolis.

During the conference tournament, the Bulldogs knocked off both No. 2 seed Indianapolis and the top-seed, Missouri-St. Louis, after all three shared the regular season title.

“The moment he missed the shot and I heard the buzzer, I went numb,” said TerHark, of the win over Missouri-St. Louis. “It was awesome to know we had won another championship, and to do it in dramatic fashion like we did makes it that much sweeter.

“There’s so much work that goes in behind the scenes as a team and as an individual, so to have these moments, the best way I can describe it is just pure joy.”

TerHark transferred from Wayne State College. The senior was an all-state selection for Algona, leading Class 3A in made 3-pointers that year, finishing his prep career with 160 made triples.

He was a three-year regular in the lineup for Wayne State and has played in all 31 games for head coach Jeff Horner this season. TerHark scored a season-high 11 in late February against Maryville.

“My confident is something I always carry,” TerHark said. “I play the game with an edge and it’s something I’ve really tried to push onto these guys. Being a fifth-year senior, I bring a lot of experience as a sixth-man off the bench. Just having the confidence to come in and be solid is something Coach Horner has a ton of trust in me with.

“He knows I’ve played in over 110 college games, so he knows I will be in the right spots and make the right plays. I really try to pride myself on the defensive end and take the challenge of stopping the oppositions best perimeter player, which makes me chuckle because that never used to be the case growing up.”

Horner, a former all-stater at Mason City High School and standout for the University of Iowa, has hit his home state hard for players. Along with bringing in TerHark, the roster included Davenport Assumption’s Dylan Peeters, West Des Moines Valley’s Turner Scott, Hunter Strait of Ankeny Centennial, Collin Hill from South Hamilton, Cade McKnight of Grinnell and Keaton Mitchell from Wapello.