Coreyoun Rushin simply did his job.
The 6-foot-6 senior, an athletic and bouncy forward, is Westinghouse’s highlight-reel player, capable of sparking the Warriors with an electric play or thundering dunk.
That was the case again Monday at Hyde Park.
Rushin’s powerful one-handed dunk early in the fourth quarter fueled a game-turning run, and Westinghouse defeated Hyde Park 53-49 in the first round of the a Public League playoffs.
Rushin, who has offers from Western Illinois and Winthrop, finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four blocks and game’s biggest play. With the Thunderbirds’ defense focused on Westinghouse sharpshooter Quinn Curry, Rushin split two defenders and slammed the ball through the rim, igniting a fourth-quarter surge that allowed the Warriors (9-13) to take over.
"That’s what they want me to do: to go out there and give us energy," Rushin said. "That was one of my best dunks. We got the momentum after that."
Westinghouse guard Corinthian Fields scored eight of his 11 points after Rushin’s dunk with just more than five minutes to play. The Thunderbirds (14-9) managed two baskets in their final nine possessions.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
"We feed off Corey," Fields said. "That dunk was a momentum-changer. That got everybody going."
The Warriors’ record is deceiving due to competing in the Red West with two games apiece against Young, Orr, North Lawndale, Farragut and Marshall. Fields said the tough schedule paid off Monday and will help prepare them for Wednesday’s second-round matchup with defending city champion Simeon.
"Playing in the Red West helps us in tough games," Fields said. "This is a big win for us."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Coreyoun Rushin, Westinghouse, 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks.
Key performers: Hyde Park — DaQuan Fairley, 18 points; Shomari Tillett, 10 points, 15 rebounds. Westinghouse — Dexter Reed, 11 points, 6 rebounds; Corinthian Fields, 11 points.
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