Janelle Ruen Post Falls Year: Junior Sport: Basketball Position: Wing

Janelle Ruen probably won’t make a final decision until right before tipoff of Post Falls’ opening-round game today in the State A-1 girls basketball tournament.

She won’t lose any sleep over it either. It’ll probably be a knee-jerk resolution, though.

To put her hair in braids or a ponytail?

That’s the $64,000 question.

So, it’s the ponytail that’s been the secret behind her late-season surge? Ruen has taken her game to another level in recent weeks.

With her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, she says her all-around solid play is largely due to the fact she started putting her hair in a ponytail just before the postseason.

“That’s what my dad thinks,” she said, unable to hold back laughter.

Just to prove him wrong, she switched Saturday and put her hair in braids when Post Falls met Boise in a state-qualifying playoff.

Post Falls ran all over Boise 53-34.

Post Falls (17-8) meets Highland (19-5) in an opener today at 5:30 PST.

“Our win against Boise was probably one of our best defensive games of the year,” Ruen said. “I don’t think any of us have stopped smiling since that game.”

The biggest spark to the improved defense - and improvement teamwide - has been Ruen.

Her team-leading scoring average of 12.4 points per game is deceiving. She can and has had games of 20 or more points. But she doesn’t feel the need to do that.

Ruen’s pleased with her contributions in other areas. She averages 7.2 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 4 assists. She consistently posts a double-double from among the major statistical categories of points, rebounds, steals and assists. Next year, it wouldn’t be strange to see her make a run at triple doubles.

Although she tries to blend her talents with her teammates, she admittedly has looked to score more in the postseason.

She’ll take the same approach at state.

“It’s important to score, but it doesn’t drive me,” she said. “But I’m going to try to be as aggressive as I can and look to score at state because the team needs that. I think we’ll be able to play with anyone down there.”

Braids or ponytail notwithstanding.

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