LINDEN, NJ–In the nightcap of the GMC Hoops doubleheader at the 2016 Linden Fall League on Tuesday night, South Brunswick took on Union Catholic in a Battle of Vikings.
After a back and forth exchange for much of the first period, Union Catholic scored the final points of the frame, and then outscored South Brunswick by a margin of 15-2 over the first 7:43 of the second to take a 30-13 lead.
SBHS didn’t give up though. Instead, the GMC Red DIvision squad rallied with a 45-28 surge that had four threes including one that tied the contest from Ryan Moran and several scores from Mike Ugarte to knot the game at 58-58 with a little more than a half minute remaining.
Unfortunately for South Brunswick, Union Catholic, which had four dunks from 6’10” big man, Jordan Pierce, was able to put away the game by scoring the last five points by making 5 of 6 from the charity stripe for a 63-58 victory. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
9:35–UC–layup down low for a 2-0 lead.
8:45–UC–knocks in jumper from right side of the key for a 4-0 lead.
8:03–SB–Greg Lee cans a trey from the left corner for a 4-3 UC lead.
6:15–SB–Mike Ugarte fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 4-4 tie.
4:30–UC–converts a three point play for a 7-4 lead.
4:11–SB–Chris James sinks three from right wing to tie the game at 7-7.
2:02–SB–Vic Huetz–fouled and makes both FTs to end 5-0 UC run for a 12-9 UC lead.
0:41–SB–James scores on a pretty move from the right side to close the gap to 12-11.
0:00–UC–scores in closing seconds for a 14-11 lead after one.
Second Quarter
8:49–SB–Tavian Alford steal leads to Ugarte layup from the left side for a 14-13 UC lead.
6:47–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 16-13 lead.
6:23–UC–alleyoop dunk by Jordan Pierce for a 18-13 lead.
5:22–UC–drills three from left wing for a 21-13 lead.
5:19–SB–timeout.
3:37–UC–two more dunks by Pierce for a 25-13 lead.
3:09–UC–basket and a foul, but missed bonus FT for a 27-13 lead.
2:17–UC–three pointer from the right wing for a 30-13 lead.
1:54–SB–Ugarte fouled and makes both FTs for a 30-15 UC lead.
0:15–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 32-15 lead.
0:02–SB–Ugarte–fouled–made both FTs for a 32-17 UC lead.
0:00–UC–heave from three quarter court is off the mark, but still leads 32-17 at the half.
Third Quarter
9:45–UC–layup from left side for a 34-17 lead.
9:26–SB–Alford scores on putback for a 34-19 UC lead.
9:10–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 36-19 lead.
8:22–SB–Ugarte knifes in from the left side for a layup and a 36-21 UC lead.
6:45–SB–now on a 7-2 run including a floater by Lee to close the gap to 38-28.
4:54–UC–knocks down a trey from the left wing for a 41-28 lead.
4:00–UC–basket for a 43-28 lead.
1:54–SB–two FTs caps a 7-3 run for a 46-35 UC lead.
0:00–SB–Ugarte unable to get a shot off as he is fouled on the floor. UC leads 46-35 after three.
Fourth Quarter
9:30–SB–gets kind bounce on jumper in the paint for a 46-37 lead.
7:05–UC–makes one of two FTs and then Pierce scores on follow for a 49-37 lead.
6:49–SB–Ryan Moran knocks down a three from top of the key for a 49-40 UC lead.
5:41–SB–timeout with UC leading 51-42.
5:30–SB–Moran sinks another three forba 51-45 lead.
4:45–UC–basket for a 53-45 lead.
4:04–SB–Moran hits trey from left side for a 53-48 UC lead.
3:50–UC–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 54-48 lead.
3:11–UC–Pierce fouled on dunk (fourth of game)–missed FT. Technical foul on UC–SB–Moran–makes one of two FTs for a 56-49 UC lead.
2:32–SB–Lee–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 56-50 UC lead.
1:54–SB–Ugarte layup for a 56-52 UC lead.
1:34–UC–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 57-52 lead.
1:14–SB–Ugarte fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 57-53 UC lead.
0:55–SB–Ugarte layup for a 57-55 UC lead.
0:46–UC–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 58-55 lead.
0:34–SB–Moran fires in three from left side for a 58-58 tie.
0:30–UC–fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 59-58 lead.
0:19–SB–timeout after two FTs by UC for a 61-58 lead.
0:05–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 63-58 lead.
0:00–SB–heave from three quarter court is off the mark as time expires for a 63-58 UC win.