Big day for Kushner sends WC East over WC Rustin

WEST GOSHEN>> The three time defending Ches-Mont League champion West Chester East boys basketball team has had many changes through its three year run. But, one constant has been the superlative inside play of now senior Jack Kushner.

Saturday afternoon at Jack Byrne Gymnasium, Kushner put on another of his special performances as he led the Vikings with 16 points to go along with 14 rebounds as he drove the Vikings to a 61-51 win over cross-town Rival West Chester Rustin in nonleague play for the Vikings 10th win of the season.

“When I came to East my son told me we should be known as ”Beast Mode” because that is what the kids at Eest are like,” West Chester East coach Tom Durant said. “And Jack was in seventh grade when I came here and i went over to a camp and he just out jumped everybody. He has a real high motor and just works and works and he is the definition of “Beast Mode” for us. He just gives everything he has.”

The Vikings (10-2) took control of the game in the second period as they outscored the Golden Knights (5-7) 14-4 in the period as Rustin shot just two for 13 in the second period. The Vikings went on a 7-0 mini run to break a 12-12 tie.

Ryan Price drained one of his three treys and then after a Rustin miss, Jose Ramos fed Kushner inside for a lay-up to make it a 17-12 game. Brian Cox took another pretty pass inside and scored and suddenly it was a 19-12 Vikings lead.

At halftime, East had a 22-14 advantage and the Golden Knights were shooting just six for 27 from the field in the first half.

The third period saw more of the same as the Vikings were going inside and the Golden Knights seemed content to shoot the three-ball.

And Rustin was only 10 for 41 from the field through the first three periods and East outscored Rustin 22-13 in the third period and took a commanding 44-27 lead after three periods.

Josh Sherlock scored four of his eight points in the third period and Kushner kept punishing Rustin inside. Kushner got the crowd to its feet when he through down a slam dunk to make it a 44-27 game after three periods.

“Coach Durant wanted us to get the ball inside today,” Kushner said.” And when we did it opened everything up for the other guys. If they doubled me I would kick it out to one of them and if they didn’t double I really don’t think they could handle me with one guy. We started the year a little sloppy but we have improved each game and we are starting to get back to our peak I think.”

The Golden Knights did not quit however. Led by the hot fourth period shooting of Ian Schlesinger, the Golden Knights cut the East lead to 53-42 with 2:46 to play in the fourth period after Schlesinger drained a three-ball. The senior led Rustin with 16 points for the game. the golden Knights shot nine for 15 in the fourth period but it was too little too late for Rustin.

But with the Golden Knights forced to gamble on defense, East got two inside easy baskets , one by Sherlock and one by KJ Cochran. Price drained a three-ball and the Rustin comeback was cut short and the Vikings strolled to a 61-51 win.

“Every coach hopes his team can eliminate the mistakes and today we were sloppy at times,” Durant said. “And we are still working on things to not be quite so sloppy in key situations.”

WC EAST 61, WC RUSTIN 51

WC RUSTIN (51) Nochumndson 2 3-5 8, Giunta 3 0-0 7, Hatton 3 0-0 8, Schlesinger 6 0-0 16, Hasson 1 0-0 3, Sproull 1 1-1 3, Taross 1 0-0 2, Davis 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 4-6 51.

WC EAST (61) Sherlock 4 0-0 8, Kelly 0 0-0 0. Price 4 2-2 13, Cox 1 0-0 2, Ramos 2 5-5 9, Kushner 7 2-2 16, Cochran 2 4-4 8, Gallagher 2 0-0 5, Porter 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 11-13 61.

West Chester Rustin 10 4 13 24-51
West Chester East    8 14 22 17-61
3-point goals: Nochumdson, Giunta, Hatton 2, Schlesinger 3, Hasson, Price 3, Gallagher.