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Sports

Nash Scores 29 as Rustin Defeats Henderson

The two-sport start leads Rustin to a win over crosstown rival Henderson, 75-57

Senior two-sport star Anthony Nash scored 29 points, including the 1,000th of his varsity career, as the basketball team conquered ,  75-57, in the annual regular season intra-city rivalry game before a near capacity crowd Tuesday night at Henderson.

The 6-5 Duke University football recruit scored 11 points in the decisive third quarter – punctuated by a fast break dunk – and then hit six straight free throws to stymie any thoughts of a Henderson comeback in the fourth quarter as the Golden Knights evened their record at 5-5 heading into Thursday night’s Ches-Mont American Division game at Kennett.

The standout performance included two threes and 11 for 14 from the charity stripe, one of which came with 3:40 left in the game, the landmark 1.000th point of his four-year varsity career. 

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“It just represents all the hard work I’ve put in over four years,” Nash stated with a smile, remembering his freshman season when he made varsity but minutes were hard to come by.  “But I’m just trying to contribute for my teammates to help us get a win.”

This win was wire to wire, with Rustin taking leads of 5-0 and 17-5 before scored the last six points of the first quarter to get the home crowd and student section energized.  Chas McCormick scored seven points for Henderson in the second quarter and the Warriors were down five with 3:30 to go, but Rustin went on a 10-4 tear to close out the half and carry momentum into the lockerroom.

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T.J. White tallied straight inside for Henderson at the start of the third as the Warriors pulled to within four but Nash registered 10 of his team’s last 11 points in the period as the margin stretched from eight to 15.  The dunk was part of that run and his six fourth-quarter free throws were complemented by Ethan Ridgeway’s eight for eight from the line as Henderson could get no closer than 12 the rest of the way.

“The goal tonight was to gel.  We wanted to gel against a quality team like Henderson,” offered Rustin coach Keith Cochran, who led his team to the Ches-Mont Championship last year.  “We’re starting to learn what each other can do.  We’re a veteran team but inexperienced.  I’m hoping these guys can exceed my expectations by the end of the season.”

“They played smarter,” Henderson coach Chris Bruno stated after his team dropped to 7-5 with a road game against Downingtown West set for Thursday.  “They showed composure on both ends of the floor.  We’re still trying to run right over everyone and we’re not used to being down.”

Rustin hit five of their seven shots from behind the three-point line to counter Henderson’s aggressive defense, Ridgeway was a stabilizing force in the point guard role and senior Dan Myers delivered 10 points down low at key moments in the game to keep the Golden Knights in control.

Ridgeway finished with 21, freshman Andrew Chobany added 10 for Rustin and Nash collected eight rebounds.  For Hednerson, Chas McCormick had 17, White added 15 and Jason McCormick contributed 12. 

In the varsity girls prelim, Rustin topped Henderson 55-42, behind 28 points from Adashia Franklyn and 10 from Mikayla Doane.  Franklyn, who added 14 rebounds and six blocks,  is the daughter of Marilyn Stevens, Temple University’s women’s basketball all-time leading scorer and the women’s head coach at Cheyney University.  Emily Torrance scored 27 and Katie Stec added five for Henderson.

In the junior varsity boys game at Rustin, the Golden Knights emerged victorious, 50-45, behind 11 points from Tyler Blake.   Luke Weaver scored 18 and Mark DiMatteo 12 for Henderson.

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