Addy Ruffin’s play in Nixa’s 86-54 COC-opening rout of Carl Junction on Thursday drew comparisons to her aunt, former Lady Eagles all-stater Hope Hunt.
Nixa coach Jenny Talbert’s glory days at Glendale in the late 1990s and early 2000s are from the same era as Hunt’s career at Nixa.
“I don't think we ever actually played against each other in high school, but I did play against her in the summer in AAU ball,” Talbert said. “(Hope) should be pretty proud of how Addy is playing because Hope was a good defender and good shooter. It must be in the bloodlines.”
Ruffin scored 14 points while part of a dominating Nixa effort on both ends of the court. The Lady Eagles (10-3) put the turbo clock in effect against the defending COC champion Lady Bulldogs (5-6).
Ruffin has grown up receiving plenty of basketball knowledge from Hunt, who now lives in Illinois.
“Oh my gosh, every time she comes into town she tells me different things about basketball and how to get better,” Ruffin said. “She’s helped me improve so much. Everybody tells me she’s been a great influence on me.”
Ruffin’s older brother Colin, was an all-state guard for Nixa’s boys basketball team two years ago. The fact both Addy and Colin both became point guards wasn’t exactly by design.
“It was a coincidence,” Addy said. “But I did take his number (1).”
Halfway through her junior season, Ruffin is gaining a reputation as a defensive dynamo coming off Nixa’s bench.
“I focus on my defense because right now that's what I'm doing really good at,” she said. “I’m building my offense as I go.”
“She's a strong, physical guard,” Talbert said. “She’s able to guard a lot of different positions. Her active hands are what gets the job done. She tips passes and gets steals.”
Ruffin’s defense nearly put her in the spotlight in the White Division championship game at the Pink & White Lady Classic. With :18 remaining and Nixa trailing Greenwood (Arkansas) 42-21, Ruffin appeared to steal the ball from a Greenwood player. However, Ruffin was instead called for a foul.
“It was crunch time and I saw (the Greenwood player) not looking at the ball, so I went for it,” Ruffin said. “We had a girl going down the court, so I was getting ready to chuck the ball to her when I got it.”
The fact Ruffin was on the floor come crunch times speaks volumes of Talbert’s confidence in her.
“Addy has been playing really well,” Talbert said. “We call her our steady spark. She comes in and good things happen. She disrupts on (defense) and scores on offense. She's been so consistent. You know when she goes in, she's going to give you incredible effort. She knocks down shots and is playing with confidence. I love the way she's playing.”
Ruffin was one of eight Nixa players with six points or more against Carl Junction. The Lady Eagles scored 25 points in the opening quarter and the rout was on. They were up by 19 at halftime.
Laila Grant’s 16 points and Sadie Conway’s 15 led Nixa. Lily Mahy and Gwen Kubik both had nine.
The Lady Eagles’ COC opener is their only game in a stretch of 18 days. They hadn’t played since Dec. 30 and won’t be in action again until next weekend’s Nixa Invitational Tournament.
“The girls were so excited to have a game,” Talbert said. “I was proud of the energy they played with from the start of the game to the end.”
