June has been good to the Canterbury Rams, and their wingman Ethan Rusbatch in particular.

They have won three of their four games this month, beating the Taranaki Mountainairs, the Waikato Pistons twice, and only losing to the second-place Wellington Saints.

Rusbatch has come up big during that stretch, notching season highs of 18 and 17 points in the two encounters with the Pistons.

Shooting guard Glen Dandridge has been out with an elbow injury, while forward Richie Edwards was ejected during last Sunday’s game in Hamilton, meaning Rusbatch has had to up his production.

It was a change he was ready for.

“In all the other teams I’ve played for, I’ve been a leading scorer,” he said.

But he knew that with the players in the the Rams’ starting five, he would have to adjust.

“I didn’t mind taking a different role and just try and help us do whatever we can to win,” he said.

He’s hoping his form can carry into this weekend’s away double-header, which starts tonight in Invercargill against the Southland Sharks.

Dandridge is still out, while Edwards will be serving a one-game suspension, meaning Rusbatch should see plenty of ball once again.

After that, it’s on to Dunedin where they play the Otago Nuggets on Sunday, a game Rusbatch is looking forward to.

“We lost to them pretty badly the first time so it will be good to get one back on them,” he said.

That loss followed one of the Rams’ worst defensive efforts of the season and how they’ve turned that side of their game around has been key to their run of form.

The Rams were thrashed 106-81 by the Super City Rangers at the end of May, and since then they have done nothing but defensive practice, whcih was starting to show, said coach Dave Harrison.

In June, the Rams have kept opposing sides to 85 points per game on 41 per cent shooting, a massive improvement when compared to the 94 points per game on 49 per cent shooting they allowed during their first 11 games.

Rusbatch said they knew from early on that their defence would be what won them games.

“We all knew that we’d have no problems scoring, so our main focus would have to be on the defensive end.”

Rams’ coach Dave Harrison said he asked Rusbatch to focus on being a leader on defence this season, and while his points against the Pistons had been handy, he was more impressed with the job he did on their import forward Akeem Wright.

“I just love what he gives us defensively,” said Harrison.

Aged just 22, Rusbatch has been given a great learning environment with the Rams.

He said it was great being able to learn from the team’s American imports, both on and off the court.

Being able to play alongside fellow wing Glen Dandridge, and pick up some of his moves and skills had been invaluable, said Rusbatch.

Off the court, he has learnt a lot from watching centre Matt Rogers.

“He is super good out with people and kids and the public, so it’s good to watch hat he does, and learn different ways to deal with different scenarios,” said Rusbatch.

While he’s soaking up as much as he can, as one of the few Rams with prior NBL experience, he’s also been helping their rookies get up to speed.

“I try and help out anyone I can,” he said.

After this weekend, there will be just one game left in the Rams’ comeback season, but Rusbatch thinks their future looks rosy.

‘We’re ending the season better than we started off,” he said.