Purple and Electric Blue: Storm honor late Pokorski in Cleveland's awareness game 

RIO RANCHO — Cancer Awareness games and nights are no strangers to the city of Rio Rancho. Between the Storm and Rams, decking out uniforms and gymnasiums with pink in support is a common sight across all sports.

That pink was accompanied by purple on Tuesday night.

“We've been working on this since mid-November,” Cleveland girls basketball head coach Stacy Pokorski said. “Our team, we have amazing kids and families and a great community that rallied behind us, and we're completely behind the cause.”

In November, former Lobos basketball player and New Mexico hoops figure Rich Pokorski passed away after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a month earlier. 

Pokorski played for the Lobos from 1971-75 before dedicating 29 years to Eldorado High School as a teacher, basketball coach and athletic director. After retirement, Rich would sometimes help out his daughter, Stacy, with her Storm team.

Now, in February, her Storm team gave back to him.

“When he was getting towards the end, we mentioned to him that we would want to dedicate our Cancer Awareness game to him this year,” Pokorski said. “Last year, he kind of helped on and off throughout the season, coming into some practices and helping with some individual developments. So the girls were also happy to honor him as well tonight.”

Proceeds from the game, with a bake sale and donation table in the gym lobby, will be donated to Presbyterian Hospice, the organization that supported Rich during his battle with pancreatic cancer.

With help from her team, school and district Athletic Director Todd Resch, the “Purple Out” was in full swing.

“Tonight’s just a night to honor him and all that he did for me,” Pokorski said. “For basketball, and my sister (Becky), my assistant coach.”

Along with purple warm-up shirts for the Storm, purple was spread out across the bleachers in the Thunderdome, along with a pregame recognition and moment of silence for Rich.

In front of the electric “Purple Out” crowd, the Storm fell just short in a highly competitive game, 49-43. Cleveland and Rio Rancho will face off again on Feb. 20 at Rio Rancho High School.