CLAFLIN, Kan. --Young and old, they entered the Immaculate Conception Parish Center on Williamson Street to watch Jackie on television. It was the kind of gathering that can only happen in a small town, where folks who have known each other all or most of their lives gather to tell stories they've heard a thousand times.

But those Purdue party-poopers spoiled this small-town celebration. By halftime, the faces of Jackie Stiles' hometown fans had grown concerned as the Bears of Southwest Missouri State trailed by 17 points in the NCAA semifinals in St. Louis.

There were more and more frowns in the second half when, except for a brief rally early, the Bears continued to struggle and lost to the Boilermakers 81-64.

Disappointment? Yes.

But nothing will ever diminish the love and pride this town has for Stiles.

"We're all disappointed,'' a man said as the final seconds of the game wound down. "But nobody will take this harder than Jackie.''

The biggest challenge during my Friday visit was finding somebody in town who doesn't much care about watching Stiles play basketball.

I'm proud, and somewhat shocked, to report I found him. The man, who looked to be in his mid-to-late 50s and has lived in Claflin all his life, said he wasn't much into sports.

"I feel the same way about sports,'' he proclaimed, "as Marx felt about religion. It's the opiate of the people.''

He said he had not watched Stiles play -- ever. And he didn't sound as if he thought he had missed anything.

His name? Are you kidding? He makes his living in Claflin, among people who adore Stiles. He wasn't about to give his name.

There were gatherings all over town for Friday's game. The biggest was at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center, which is less than six months old and could, in a pinch, hold every one of Claflin's 600 or so residents.

There weren't 600 people in the building Friday, but there were plenty. People brought chips and other appetizers. The Pizza to Go woman, as they call her here, slaved away in her kitchen, making food for the occasion.

A couple of hours before the game, just after school had let out, a group of four girls, 9 and younger, were shooting baskets at the city park.

There are basketball goals up all around town, a testament, I suppose, to Stiles.

The girls said they admired and loved Jackie.

"She's so nice,'' 9-year-old Brogan Kirmer said. "I went to her basketball camp last summer.''

"She's cool, and she's awesome,'' 7-year-old Norel Kirmer said.

"She's my neighbor,'' 8-year-old Miranda Gaddis said.

"She's made 3,339 points, and she shoots 1,000 shots every day,'' said 7-year-old Hayla Demel.

Hayla hadn't yet added the 32 points Stiles scored against Washington in the West Regional final earlier in the week. But her recall was still impressive.

"I just remember things,'' she explained. "And I watch TV.''

Even 4-year-old Carson Kirmer, the younger brother of Brogan and Norel, was up on his Stiles trivia.

"I like her because she scored 40 points and she won the (scoring) record,'' he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Kathy Kirmer, mother of the three Kirmer kids, said the family has known Stiles for years. Her husband, Alan, has been the school custodian at Claflin High for quite some time.

"Jackie would always show up at the school before he did, to practice,'' Kathy said. "And he would be there by 6 a.m.''

It has been a hectic week in Claflin leading up to the women's Final Four in St. Louis.

Reporters from television stations and newspapers have been stopping in town all week. Radio stations have been calling.

Everybody in Claflin, it seems, has been interviewed at some point to talk about Stiles.

Kyle Hickel, who along with his five brothers, a sister, 24 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren make up a nice chunk of the town's population, said he has been interviewed five times.

A cable company from nearby Holyrood supplied a big-screen TV and cable hookup for the game. And it took no time at all for the Stiles lovers to get involved.

"Get the ball to Stiles,'' one man screamed just seconds into the game.

"Get a clue,'' another hollered after Stiles was called for a foul. "What game are you watching?''

Kyle Hickel said Stiles' reaching the Final Four is the biggest thing to happen since 1976, when a train derailed and crashed into the co-op elevator.

"It happened late in the morning, and there was a guy in the elevator, and his mother was in the office,'' Hickel said. "I guess he pulled her out of there just before the train crashed.''

Southwest Missouri State's performance Friday against Purdue resembled a train wreck. The Bears' captivating run through the NCAA Tournament ended with a thud.

The people here were disappointed. Some were even angry. But they will always love Jackie.

"I remember back when Jackie used to baby-sit our kids,'' Steve Hickel said. "She wouldn't even charge us because she would always take them to the gym with her while she shot baskets. She didn't think she should charge us for that.''

There are a million Jackie Stiles stories in the small town. And every one of them is sure to put a smile on the faces of the people who live here.

The disappointment won't last forever.