They did it.
For Park City High School, there is always something vindicating about beating Judge. That vindication reaches the heights of sheer ecstasy when it’s on Judge’s home floor and in the championship game.
“It just doesn’t get better than that,” said Park City head freshman basketball coach Kevin Ruda. “We truly are a team of champions.”
It was just that kind of storybook ending for the Miners Monday night as the Park City High School freshman basketball team beat the Bulldogs 42-31 to win the Judge Memorial [High School] Freshman Tournament and bragging rights as the best 3A frosh team in the state this season.
“We knew we were good and this was our goal, but with all of our games[ it’s a great accomplishment]” said Park City player Brae Dilley.
The win puts the cherry on top of an undefeated season. It was also an opportunity for the team to say thanks to coach Ruda, whose wife and mother passed away in the last few weeks.
“The boys had to play through my personal tragedy,” Ruda said. “I know my wife was looking down smiling.”
Diane Ruda was also the mother of one of the players, Jordan Ruda.
“That was the biggest thing to come out and win it for my mom and dad,” Jordan said.
The Bulldogs did give the Miners a game, going on a run in the first quarter to go ahead 7-6. The next quarter the Miners regained the lead, but by the end of the third it was all tied up at 26 points.
The teams continued to battle in the fourth quarter. With just a few minutes left in the game, it looked like the game could go either way. Then, the Miners reminded the Bulldogs why they had gone three months unscathed. Park City began to turn up the defensive heat and the Bulldogs struggled to score. Britton Buford and Heath Vincent were able to keep the ball moving in the backcourt and force the Bulldogs to foul, sending the Miners to the free-throw line numerous times. That, combined with a few big shots, was just enough to give the Miners the victory.
“Our intensity has got us out of a lot of close games,” Jordan said.
“When we do good on defense, it makes our offense better,” agreed Dilley.
Ruda attributed the win and the season to the players’ iron will to win and teamwork.
“These kids are mentally tough,” he said. “This was a total team effort. We’ve got 12 kids that practice hard and play hard. At any level to go undefeated is a tough thing.”
Freshman phenom Jon Schettler once again reminded the crowd why he started on varsity for most of the season, pouring in 21 points. Most of those were earned at the charity stripe, where Schettler went 12 for 15 in the second half, helping the Miners to keep the game out of reach for Judge.
“I’ve been working on my foul shots,” Schettler said. “I told the team to put the ball in my hands. I just took advantage and hit most of my free throws.”
The team, which has been playing together since third grade, will now have the challenge of keeping up the tradition. Although the Miners haven’t been known for the basketball prowess, the team feels it has definitely set a precedent for years to come.
“If we keep on working hard in the off-season, I don’t see why we can’t do this every year,” Dilley said.