Jack Ruhland's career-high helps advance Jumpshot Hustlers in the combined rec-plus playoffs
Ruhland (26)
Jack Ruhland has grown a reputation in UH Minnesota as a consistently reliable glue guy. He provides valuable minutes off the bench by hustling, playing defense, setting screens and constantly battling for rebounds (he averages two offensive rebounds per game while being listed at 6’0”).
Scoring is not one of the traits you would typically relay on from Ruhland. He has averaged 5.3 points on 38% shooting from the field in his career. He had played in 15 games this season before last night, and he had two games where he scored 10 points, which was his season-high. You know what you’re getting from Ruhland, and if he’s able to score a few buckets, that’s an added bonus.
His performance in the play-in round of the combined rec-plus playoffs last night saw a lot of upside, as Ruhland more than doubled his season-high in a 103-83 win for the Jumpshot Hustlers over Old School. He scored 25 points on 11-18 shooting from the field, adding 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
This wasn’t only a season-high, as it surpassed his previous career-high of 20 points, which is something he’s done twice. He did it in an 82-73 win in the Winter of 2018 (on 16 shots) and in a 110-87 loss in the Fall of 2018 (on 17 shots).
Ruhland’s performance was a big reason why the Jumpshot Hustlers were able to win last night, but another factor was that he played for Jumpshot Hustlers, his Fridley team, and not Old School, his Bloomington South team. Attendance forced him into this decision, as Jumpshot Hustlers only had four players, while Old School had five, so Ruhland stuck with his Fridley squad to make it a five-on-five game.
Adding to Ruhland’s career-best performance was the play of Sebastian Adesoro and Latrell Love. That duo combined for 67 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists on 28-45 shooting from the field and 5-8 from deep.
This advances the Jumpshot Hustlers to the round of 16 where they’ll face Total Blend next week.