Ruiz admitted to being nervous about the situation leading up to the first practice of her freshman year.
With nine juniors and seniors on the roster, playing time was sparse for her and Molano at the beginning. As sophomores, the duo started carving out a bigger role on what proved to be a historic season for the Indians.
On Jan. 31, 2017, with Hernandez seeking a more guard-heavy lineup, Ruiz was inserted into the starting five for the first time and proceeded to score six points in a win over Becton. It was a game that Ruiz called a defining moment.
Another defining moment came six games later against Saddle Brook any perception that Ruiz got preferential treatment was shot down, as she noted that it was the first time she got yelled at by Hernandez.
“He was telling me to be more aggressive,” recalled Ruiz. “I was more nervous than anything. He knew that I could give more.
“But it was a good thing (he yelled at me) because we ended up winning that game and it basically clinched us the division.”
Two days later, Weehawken defeated Wallington to earn its first-ever division title in any girls sport. The Indians went on to set a school record for wins with 22.
As a junior, Weehawken repeated as NJIC Meadowlands Division champions with Ruiz and Molano as the centerpieces of a much younger Indians team.
Even as Ruiz’s role has grown from a freshman, just hoping to get on the court, to reserve, to the key starter, Hernandez has made sure that his treatment of her hasn’t changed.
“She knows and everybody else knows that she’s not my stepdaughter when she gets on this court, she is my point guard,” Hernandez said. “I make sure to let her know that every time when I’m talking to her as my stepdaughter and when I’m talking to her as my point guard.”
Both coach and point guard agree that they’ve done a pretty good job of not crossing the line between basketball and family.
One rule they have established is after games, discussion and critiques about what happened end the moment the car arrives home.
“We’re lucky. Well, she’s lucky that we live in Weehawken,” Hernandez said with a laugh. “I would say that her best days on the ride home after a rough day is when there’s no traffic. But we know that Weehawken traffic can be tough so it can be anywhere from 10 to a good 30 minutes.
“I’m not going to say that I don’t take the long way home on days that she needs to hear a little extra, but if I don’t have much to say, we get there pretty quick.”