Tigers Trim Vikings In Top 25 Tussle

The GSBR Union County Game Of The Week Presented By Wheelie Good Pierogi

The 2023-2024 season opened up with a bang in Scotch Plains as defending Non Public A State Champion Union Catholic hosted Linden, the favorite to win the Group IV crown this season. The battle between ReportIt Top 25 teams delivered the goods in front of a raucous crowd on Martine Avenue, with Linden emerging with a statement 62-51 victory.

Linden started the game hot, taking a 5-0 lead after a triple by sophomore Jehki Burnam. The first quarter settled into a tough defensive battle with teams struggling to find easy baskets. Linden was able to extend their lead late in the quarter after a 3 pointer by Nas Robinson. Not to be outdone, Union Catholic's junior point guard AJ Altobelli answered with a corner triple to keep UC close. The quarter ended with the Tigers in the lead, 12-7. The most important stat of the quarter was Union Catholic 6’8” forward FK Muntari being saddled on the bench for the remainder of the half with two first quarter fouls.

Linden took advantage of the Vikings lack of Muntari's presence on the floor and ran their lead at the start the second after a Te’Quan Thomas three and Hashim Nadir mid range jumper made it 17-8. UC, struggling from the outside, began looking under the basket to find opportunities for their 6’11” big man Yaw Ansong. The junior center scoring 8 points in a row to keep the Vikings within punching distance, but Nadir, Mid Range Master of the Garden State, hit two of his signature shots to keep the Tigers ahead at the break, 29-21. Nadir and Burnam both had double digits for the Tigers in the first half, while Ansong kept Union Catholic alive with his strong second quarter.

Union Catholic kept themselves in the contest after the break by working the ball into the post and getting several late baskets from Altobelli, including a +1 to keep UC in the game but were still trailing the Tigers 39-34 after three quarters.

The Vikes came out hot in the fourth and after a Muntari three, found themselves even at 39. Linden answered with a 7-0 run inside thirty seconds with a pair of buckets by Robinson and an off balance layup from Nadir, returning control immediately, and permanently, to the Tigers at 46-39 with 5:47 to go. As the clock ticked towards zero, Linden turned up the heat and scored four unanswered layups off UC turnovers to put UC down by 10 with under a minute left, and sealed a 62-51 victory with free throws by Nas Robinson.

Case Agency Player Of The Game

Hashim Nadir, Linden

The 6'3" senior forward does all the little things for the Tigers. He's regarded as one of the top defenders in Union County but tonight it was his mid range game--his strongest offensive skill--on display. He finished with 17 points to power the Tigers to victory.

Next: Union Catholic will host Plainfield(1-0) on Tuesday. Linden takes on Newark Weequahic(1-0) on Saturday.

GSBR Union County Game Of The Week Promotional Partners