Hot Dog On A Leash Viks’ Rupp Goes Easier On Mustard In Adding Spice To The Offense

The game was well in hand, the shot ill-advised.

With about 3 minutes left and his team on its way to a 24-point Border League basketball decision over West Valley last week, Coeur d’Alene High point guard Jim Rupp took a pass in transition and, in an uninterrupted motion, launched a 3-point shot.

The scream from the sideline muffled the clank off the iron.

Rupp knew before he received the pass that he shouldn’t shoot. And, even before he shot, he could hear his coach, Larry Bieber, telling him not to shoot.

He did anyway. It was the kind of undisciplined action that would have landed Rupp on the bench last season.

“I just thought I could make the shot,” Rupp said, flashing a smile similar to a kid sneaking an early peak at a Christmas present. “Something just took over my mind. I couldn’t believe I shot it. I should have backed it out and taken some time off the clock.”

That statement alone shows there’s been a metamorphosis in Rupp’s attitude and game this season.

There’s still some hot dog in the quick, 5-foot-8 Rupp, but he’s applying less mustard than last year.

“I’m much more disciplined this year,” Rupp said.

Rupp averaged 14 minutes off the bench last season. That was part of his problem, he admits.

“I was frustrated last year,” he said. “I thought I should have played more, should have started.”

So when Rupp went into games, he immediately looked to create offense for himself.

Often he’d find himself on the bench for extended periods of time because of frequent moments of selfishness.

“I guess I grudgingly accepted my role,” Rupp said. “The selfish part of me manifested when I tried to do more than I should have.”

The transition from last season to this year began immediately after last year, Rupp said.

“I sat down with the coaches right after the season and they told me the team (this year) will live and die by me,” Rupp said. “I knew I had to be more disciplined and become a leader - or I’d be on the bench.”

Bieber sees a night-to-day difference in Rupp.

“His maturity has impressed me,” Bieber said. “He still needs a short leash, but he’s shown marked improvement in what he needs to do as the point guard.”

Rupp’s also matured in the classroom where prior to this year he did just enough to stay eligible.

He’s also worked on defense, understanding that being a good defender can also create offense.

CdA has won four straight since a season-opening loss to Boise, a team the Viks hope to see again later in the season. The Viks are 3-0 in the Border League, a half-game ahead of preseason favorite Cheney.

Rupp is averaging 13.6 points per game, second behind post Casey Hoorelbeke (20.5). Rupp, who averaged 7.3 ppg last year, leads CdA in minutes played (27.3 of 32 per game).

He’s capable of scoring in bunches as the Viks’ win over Nampa reveals. Rupp scored 17 of his career-high 22 in the first half.

“Before he was kind of worried about getting his points,” Bieber said. “He realizes being selfish actually detracts from his scoring. Getting his shots out of the offense is going to benefit him as well as the team. If he passes it inside our big kids are going to kick it back out to him.”

Rupp knows his coach is right.

“I’m not looking to score as I did last year,” Rupp said. “I’m looking for the assist. If I get an assist it’s the same as me scoring.”

Rupp figures his scoring will go down but his assists will go up when four-year starter Lukas O’Dowd returns in early January. O’Dowd had hernia surgery the night before CdA’s season opener.

“It doesn’t surprise me that we’re playing well without him,” Rupp said. “We’ve had a lot of guys - David Wood, Casey Hoorelbeke and Kevin DeArmond - who’ve stepped it up. We’re only going to be that much better when we get (Lukas) back.”

Rupp hopes to pilot the Viks to the state tournament. He realizes much of the responsibility toward achieving the goal sits on his shoulders.

“As the point guard you have the ball 90 percent of the time. So you have to have the trust of your team,” he said.

Among personal goals, Rupp came into the season hoping to establish himself as the best point guard in the area.

As for the mustard, Bieber is glad Rupp has shown some restraint.

“The mustard had better be necessary,” Bieber said. “The mustard was all show last year.

“He still has lapses when he tries to take over the show and not involve the team.”

Case in point: the West Valley game.

“I think he took the shot just to remind me: ‘I’m a free spirit, you can’t completely control me and don’t try,”’ Bieber said. “But after the shot he looked at me and winked. He knows how to work me.

“I had some reservations coming into the season. But it’s been smoother than I expected.”

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