WC Rustin punches ticket to states as they down WC East
WESt GOSHEN >> On a night when West Chester East senior Jack Kushner went over the 1,000-point mark early in the third period, the night clearly belonged to the West Chester Rustin boys basketball team. as they held the dangerous Kushner to just six points for the game.
The 12th-seeded Golden Knights got a stellar shooting performance from Ian Schlesinger, who had a game-high 23 points, and point guard Tyler Giunta, who added 16 points, including two big free throws in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to upset No. 4 West Chester East, 55-52, in the District 1 5A quarterfinals on Wednesday at Jack Byrne Gymnasium.
The thrilling win puts the Golden Knights (13-12) into the 5A semifinals Saturday against top-seeded Radnor at a time to be determined and clinched a berth in the PIAA Tournament. The Vikings now go into the playback round in an attempt to make the state tournament.
“It is a great feeling to make states with this team,” Schlesinger said. “We were the last seed to get in the playoffs and people said we did not belong and that we sneaked in. So, we just believed in each other and came to play tonight. This team has been through a lot of adversity and we have come on as the season went on.
“They beat us earlier in the season, but I feel we are a different team now. We got in foul trouble in our first game against them which did not help. Tonight, I just felt my shot was on and I had a lot of confidence and when it didn’t go in, we did a good job with inside rebounding. Rustin has not beaten East since this senior class was in high school and to beat them on their home court is a great feeling.”
The two teams battled back-and-forth the entire contest. There were 10 lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. And when East (16-8) forward Ryan Price tried to inbound the ball with 9.5 seconds to play, Rustin’s Matt Nochumson knocked the ball away and a mad scramble for the ball ensued with multiple players hitting the floor.
Giunta came out of the dog pile with the basketball and was fouled with 5.1 seconds left on the clock. Giunta cooly drained both free throws for a 55-52 lead. The Vikings did get off a last second shot by Jose Ramos, which missed badly to give them a very big victory as the Rustin student section stormed the floor.
“On the last inbounds, I was guarding KJ (Cochran).” Nochumson said. “I knew that they wanted to get the ball to him because he was being very aggressive going to the basket tonight and he was calling for the ball. He was also figuring that he would get a foul call on me, so I jumped the pass and stuck my hand out and knocked the pass away and Tyler came up with it.
“To make states especially with a win like this on their home court is a once in a lifetime thing. I always thought we could get to states because we have a lot of senior leadership and we are a real family here. The players, coaches, everybody is all together and right now we feel we are a dangerous team. We are not in fear of anybody right now the way we are playing.”
The game was a thriller from the start with four points being the largest advantage either team had all game. Cochran led the Vikings with 16 points and senior big man Stanley Porter added 10 points to go along with five blocked shots.
Rustin shot four-for-seven from the field in the fourth. Shlesinger had five three-points to help contribute to his 23 points.
The Golden Knights had a 43-40 lead after three quarters to set up the topsy turvy final period. Rustin coach Vince Mostardi was ecstatic after the win and he said his team is in this tournament to win it.
“It is really something for these kids that have worked so hard to get to this position,” he said. “They worked hard all last summer and they just kept grinding this season. Tonight, they beat a heck of a basketball team in West Chester East. Tom Durant does a great job with them and they have seen lot of winning the last few years but we feel it is Rustin’s time and these kids will not back down from anybody.
“They are a very special group that bevies in each other and believes in the coaches and tonight was a great night for them and I am very happy for them.”
WC Rustin 55, WC East 52
WC RUSTIN: Nochumson 1 2-4 4, Giunta 6 4-4 16, Hatton 1 0-0 2, Schlesinger 7 4-4 23, Crispino 2 0-0 4, Jaross 1 0-0 3, Sproull 1 0-0 3. Totals 25 10 12 55.
WC EAST: Price 2 0-0 6, Sherlock 2 0-0 4, Cox 0 0-0 0, Ramos 1 0-0 2, Cochran 6 3-4 16, Kushner 2 2-3 6, Gallagher 3 0-0 8, Porter 5 0-0 10. Totals 21 5-7 52.
West Chester Rustin 10 16 17 12-55
West Chester East 10 18 12 12-52
3-point goals: Shesinger 5, Sproull, Jaross, Cochran, Gallagher 2.
