MAX EFFORT: Hun School boys’ basketball Max Gussen looks to unload the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Thursday, senior forward Gussen scored 14 points but it wasn’t enough as Hun lost 67-57 to the Perkiomen School (Pa.). The Raiders, who fell 69-58 to The Master’s School (N.Y.) on Saturday to drop to 2-7, are next in action when they host the Academy of New Church (Pa.) on January 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Max Gussen took a hit early on as the Hun School boys’ basketball team hosted the Perkiomen School (Pa.) last Thursday evening.

“I was a little off because I had the bloody nose in the beginning of the game so that took me off rhythm,” said senior forward Gussen. “Coming back I felt pretty good.”

While Gussen had eight points through three quarters, Hun had trouble getting into a rhythm as it trailed 52-32 entering the fourth.

The Raiders mounted a rally, chipping away at the Perkiomen lead but couldn’t overcome the 20-point deficit in falling 67-57.

“What we worked on in practice, we brought into the game and it worked,” said Gussen, who ended up scoring a team-high 14 points on the evening. “The biggest thing was our energy, I think that helped us.”

Noting that the Raiders had lost to such high-quality foes as Vermont Academy (Vt.), St. Benedict’s Prep, and Our Savior Lutheran School (N.Y.) in starting 0-5 before winning two consolation games at the Peddie School Invitational Tournament, Gussen acknowledged that the Raiders needed those victories.

“Coming off of three losses to some of the best teams in the nation, we came back,” said Gussen, referring to the 65-45 win over Lawrenceville on December 9 and the 57-48 triumph over the Kiski School (Pa.) the next day.

Coming into his senior season, Gussen has been looking to produce more at both ends of the court.

“I need to get more points because last year we had a whole bunch of players that were able to do that but now those players aren’t here any more,” said the 6’6, 200-pound Gussen.

“Obviously everybody has to play defense so I have to contribute with that. I am also helping the younger guys understand our offense, defense, and the different rotations that we need to run.”

In Gussen’s view, Hun can’t let its intensity be based on hot shooting. “I have noticed that once we hit a couple of shots in the beginning it gets us going and our energy is great from there,” said Gussen.

“The thing is getting our energy in before that time, so whether we knock down shots or not, that doesn’t effect whether we have bad or good energy.”

Getting knocked down in the early going should benefit the Raiders, now 2-7, when they hit the 2018 portion of their schedule, which starts on January 4 when Hun hosts the Academy of New Church (Pa.).

“We are going to face the teams that aren’t as good, and by that time we will be used to playing better teams,” said Gussen.

“The pace of the game goes down a little bit because it is what we are used to and it is a lot easier for us.”