'Very special': Union Catholic captures first-ever boys basketball UCT title
UNION TWP. – Union Catholic High School’s boys' basketball team is picking up a few nuggets missed in last year’s run to a Non-Public A state championship.
The Vikings recently clinched at least a share of the Union County Conference Watchung Division title earlier in the week and Sunday they notched something more significant.
The Vikings won their first-ever Union County Tournament title with a 66-56 triumph over two-time defending champ Roselle Catholic at Harwood Arena at Kean University. Third-seed UC was making its first county final appearance since 1986 and just the third time ever, losing in ’86 and 1982.
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The Vikings have won 13 of 14 to raise their record to 19-6. Last year they won 13 of their final 14 games, their loss coming to Roselle Catholic in the county semifinals.
“They beat us up over the last two years, so to be able to get this one today is very special,” said UC coach Jim Reagan.
The Vikings played a solid game from start-to-finish. They led 28-25 at half but outscored the Lions 18-9 in the third quarter to assume control.
“The kids played so well today, they played so well today,” said Reagan. “I didn’t think we played too well in the semifinal game (a 68-62 win over Cranford), but I thought we played almost flawlessly today.
“I think our defensive intensity was fantastic, I thought we really took them out of what they wanted to do a number of times.”
Senior forward Terrence Wood had a season-high 11 points. He made an impact in the second quarter as UC navigated around the absence of senior forward Elijah Peters, who didn’t play in the period because of foul trouble.
“He single-handedly just kept us in the game, gave us the lead, finishing on the boards, getting guys in foul trouble, getting points when we really needed them,” senior guard A.J. Altobelli said. “He was huge.”
Reagan added, “He (Wood) understands his role, he understands the expectations of what he has to do, and he has stepped up — he’s a difference maker.”
Altobelli was once again another of the difference makers. He had eight points, nine assists and three steals. The 6-foot-11 junior forward FK Muntari scored 15 points with three 3-pointers. Junior 7-footer Yaw Ansong scored 15 with several dunks. Peters returned and had eight points, six rebounds and five steals.
“Our game plan was great, the way everyone played was great, everyone played their role and I’d call it a 10 (on a scale from 1 to 10),” said Altobelli. “This was definitely a huge game for us, we won everything else last year besides this. This was something we really wanted to check off.”
The Vikings will play one last regular season game Wednesday at Morris Catholic (23-2) which is the No. 1 seed in North Non-Public B. Union Catholic is the No. 2 seed in North Non-Public A and will play the winner of Friday’s Donovan Catholic-St. Augustine game a week from Monday in Scotch Plains.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ boys basketball: Union Catholic wins first UCT title
