Union High School Athletics

UC boys basketball team falls to Seton Hall Prep to end six game winning streak

1/13/2020 9:13:00 AM

The Vikings are now 7-2

By John Morgan

The Union Catholic boys basketball team faced off against Seton Hall Prep in the Minuteman Classic at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth on Saturday night..

The Vikings were looking to build off the momentum gained from Thursdayʼs four-point win against Union, which extended UC's winning streak to six to raise its record to 7-1. Seton Hall Prep was coming off of a blowout victory over Montclair, 62-43.

Union Catholic held at five-point lead in the third quarter, but Seton Hall Prep went on a huge run to take control of the game on the way to a 55-44 victory over the Vikings.

The Vikings were able to strike first in the opening quarter when Isaac Holmes was able to finesse his way down to lane to give the Vikings the first lead of the game.

What followed was a barrage of three point attempts from both sides. As the quarter ended at a score of 14-14, only three two-point field goals were scored. In a back and forth first, the Vikings were lead by Holmes and Al Richardson, who combined for more than half of the Vikings points.

Seton Hall Prep came into the second quarter with more aggression than in the first. The Pirates were able to secure two trips to the free throw line in three minutes to gain a five point lead,

Down 21-16 in the second quarter  Union Catholic hit three consecutive shots from deep, allowing them to sneak back ahead by three with 3:46 left in the first half. Richardson and Holmes picked up right were they left off in the first, firing on all cylinders from beyond the arc.

With 1:13 left in the first half, Vikings Coach Jim Reagan Jr. called the first timeout of the game with UC down one. Union Catholic took advantage of the breather by breaking the full court press and finding Al Richardson in the corner for a three..

At the end of the first two quarters, the Vikings held a 29-27 lead. 

The second half started with a minute of scoreless basketball until the drought was ended by UC when Bradley Young buried a three pointer. Young followed up his 3 with a transition layup that was made possible by a Richardson steal.

Just as Seton Hall Prep was inching back into the contest, the Vikings found their rhythm.

Opting for high quality looks in transition, Union Catholic was able to craft a 38-33 lead with 4:12 left in the third quarter.

But the next 4:12 went in the direction of Seton Hall Prep. With a combination of pressure defense and an interior attack, the Pirates were able to go on an 11-0 run to end the third.

The Vikings approached the fourth quarter of play needing to overcome a six point deficit, 44-38.

In the final quarter, the Vikings had a tough time scoring. The first made field goal for Union Catholic didnʼt come until the 4:30 mark when Richardson cut the Pirate lead to 49-42. Richardson, who led UC with 18 points, was able to hit another shot in the lane for Union Catholic, putting them down five.

Seton Hall Prep then played keep away from the Vikings for a full minute before extending their lead back to seven points.

In the final 1:30, Union Catholic attempted to climb back into this game the same way they came into it. After a few missed three pointers from the Vikings, and several converted free throws for Seton Hall Prep, the game came to a close.

The Vikings will look to bounce back against Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at UC.