Boys basketball: Union Catholic downs St. Joseph to claim South Non-Public A title
MEDFORD LAKES – From 0-6 to 4-21 to a South Non-Public A title – and maybe, a little more.
The Union Catholic High School boys basketball team has risen quickly in a few seasons with Wednesday night’s 86-72 victory over sixth-seed St. Joseph of Metuchen (18-11) in the sectional final.
The No. 5 seed Vikings (20-9) won the program’s first sectional title since 1987 and second overall. Union Catholic will try to repeat what the ’87 team did and win a state title. The Vikings play North winner St. Peter's Prep on Friday at Jersey Mike's Arena at Rutgers at 5 p.m. for the state championship.
UC has won 12 of 13 and six straight since a 72-56 Feb. 14 loss to Roselle Catholic in the Union County Tournament semifinals.
“I think we are playing at an elite level right now,” said Vikings coach Jim Reagan Jr.
The Vikings looked it. They came out at distant neutral site Lenape High School and immediately took over, leading 26-13 after one period and 40-26 at the half.
“We got the lead early which is what we wanted, we wanted to play ahead,” said Reagan. “Every kid in our program helped us today whether it was preparation in practice or today on the court. Our guards played very well and I thought our bigs played well.”
The Vikings have really hit stride since Plainfield transfer and senior point guard Chimeziri Okeoma became eligible Feb. 1, three days after Union Catholic lost to St. Joseph, 60-55. He had 26 points in the sectional final, including a killer 3-pointer to close the first half.
He’s averaged 18.9 points per game since joining the club, scoring 69 points in the last three games - wins over Paul VI in the quarterfinals, top-seed Camden Catholic in the semis and St. Joseph in the final.
“I just overcame so much this season, I’m just so grateful to be here,” said Okeoma. “The coaches believed in me from the jump, they knew what I was capable of, put the ball in my hands and we’re gonna win games.”
Key play
St Joseph scored the first five points of the second half to cut its deficit to 40-31. But UC answered with a bucket that was followed by a three-point play by Okeoma who turned a steal into a layup to give UC a 45-31 lead. That was really the last genuine threat by St. Joseph.
Game balls
Chimeziri Okeoma scored a game-high 26 points, but also had the defensive task of limiting St. Joseph standout Josh Ingram to 12 points. He had 20 in the Falcons regular season win against UC.
St. Joseph Junior guard Jeremy Clayville returned in the sectional semis against Rutgers Prep after missing 12 games – including the first UC game – with a high ankle sprain. He had 18 Wednesday night.
They said it
"I’m so very happy to have helped the team win. But it’s the team, my teammates and everyone who came to support us,” said UC’s Chimeziri Okeoma
What's next
The Vikings will have another chance to avenge a regular season loss when they play St. Peter's Prep Friday at 5 p.m. for the Non-Public A state title at Rutgers.
Prep beat Union Catholic 62-45 Jan. 7 at the Scholarship Fund for Inner-city Children Hoopfest at Roselle Catholic. St. Peter's was No. 3 seed in North A.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ boys basketball: Union Catholic claims South Non-Public A title
