Union High School Athletics

UC boys basketball team drops tough one in OT to Westfield

1/16/2020 8:43:00 PM

The Vikings are now 8-3

By John Morgan

The Union Catholic Vikings, coming off of 21 point victory over the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders on Tuesday, came into Thursday's contest at Westfield High School looking to improve on their record of 8-2 this season.

The Vikings, which used with a starting lineup of Elijah Barlow, Al Richardson, Isaac Holmes, Bradley Young and Matt Tracey, got off to a fast start against the Blue Devils and led most of the game before the Blue Devils rallied in the fourth quarter on the way to a 65-61 overtime victory over the Vikings.  

In the opening quarter, no team was able to truly pull away until the end of the period with four lead changes in four minutes, but then the Vikings found their groove. 

Union Catholic shied away from the usual three ball, and opted for an inside attack. Vikings such as Holmes and Tracey were able to use their physicality down low, converting on layups to keep Union Catholic on pace. At the end of one, Union Catholic was able to develop an 18-13 lead over the Blue Devils. 

Union Catholic was able to get out to an early 4-0 run in the second quarter as Holmes to hit one free throw and a deep three for the Vikings. 

After the Vikings lead inched up to nine points, Westfield was able to get on the second quarter board with a put back layup and a trip to the free throw line on consecutive possessions. 

The answer from Union Catholic came from the corner as AJ Sepulveda and Matt Tracey both knocked shots down from deep. 

While holding a 12 point lead with 3:30 remaining in the half, Union Catholic shut it down defensively by forcing multiple missed shots and turnovers. 

Union Catholic allowed a 6-0 run to end the half with the final three points coming on a buzzer beater three point shot to cut the Union Catholic lead to 35-25. 


The Vikings struggled out of the gates to start the second half. Westfield was able to work transition against the Vikings, finding the open shots which cut the Union Catholic lead to five.

The Vikings, noticing the rally from Westfield, responded with a full court press. The pressure allowed the Vikings to increase intensity while converting fast break points. 

With just under one minute left in the third, the Union Catholic lead of five points was chopped down to just three. After a series of offensive rebounds, Westfield found their put back, which led to a failed attempt at an old fashioned three pointer. At the end of three, Vikings led 47-44. 

As the fourth quarter got underway, Tracey got things started for the Vikings when drilled two free throws and took a charge on the following possession. 

Similar to how the game started, the fourth quarter was a real back and forth. Throughout the first four minutes, bursts of energy came from each side with no clear favorite. With 4:22 left the Vikings led 51-48. 

Westfield found their energy, converting on a two point opportunity that was answered by Sepulveda on the very next possession. 

With the Vikings clinging to its three-point lead, Westfield swung the ball into the corner and converted on a three-pointer to knot the game at 53 with 1:59 seconds remaining in regulation.. 

Offensive rebounding was key for Westfield down the stretch. After a few misses, the Blue Devils found an opening to take a 56-55 lead with just under a minute left as Westfield took advantage of second chance opportunities by drawing fouls and creating open looks down low. 

Down one, Vikings Head Coach Jim Reagan Jr. used a time-out to draw a play up for the inbounds. Union Catholic was able to find Tracey in the corner, who drew a reach in foul. Tracey made one of two free throws to tie things up for Union Catholic with 29 seconds left at 56-56. 

After using two timeouts, Westfield was unable to convert a game winning shot in regulation, forcing overtime at 56-56. 

In the four minutes of overtime, Westfield struck first with a corner three at the 3:20 mark.Tracey answered back immediately with a three pointer of his own to tie the game at 59. 

The Blue Devils to hit one of two free throws and made a floater in the lane to take a three point lead.
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Union Catholic, down three, was then forced to foul. With just 18 seconds left, Westfield hit two free throws to expand the lead to 65-61, which is how the game ended.  

The Vikings will be back in action on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Plainfield. UC defeated Plainfield, 61-60, last week.