Molly Brown, on of Union City's three returning starters, finished with 13 points in a 63-51 win over Paramus Catholic at the Holiday Hoopfest in Paterson.
PATERSON – With three starters back from a team that advanced to both the Hudson County Tournament final and the North 1, Group 4 state sectional final last year, Union City head coach Carlos Cueto expects another great season from his growing program. A tough early slate though has shown that while this team can reach its goals there is still plenty of work left to do. As the Soaring Eagles head into the New Year this team, led by senior point guard Jaida Guerra, seems poised to turn the page.
Guerra hit a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter on her way to a game-high 27 points as Union City took control early and got back in the win column with a 63-51 win over Paramus Catholic on Thursday at the Holiday Hoopfest at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson.
Grace McGuire’s conventional three-point play gave Paramus Catholic a 6-2 lead in the game’s opening minutes. That lead did not last for long as Union City unleashed a three-point barrage in the later stages of the quarter. The Eagles hit five threes in the last 3-plus minutes, three by Guerra and one each by the other two returning starters from last year, Molly Brown and Ariana Madrid, to take a 17-8 lead after one quarter.
They extended the lead with another three-pointer from Brown sandwiched by buckets from Madrid to stretch it out to 15 by halftime, 32-17.
“I thought we had a great first quarter,” said Cueto. “Talking defensively, boxing out, moving the ball, knocking down open shots. In the process I think we got too comfortable. The energy we had in the first quarter is how we have to play for all four quarters.”
Despite the loss, Karina Corales and Paramus Catholic are off to a solid start at 3-1.
The lead grew as large as 18 in the third quarter. Needing a spark, Paramus Catholic head coach Ed Hodge turned to freshman Payton Smith, and she provided one. Despite being the smallest player on the court, the sophomore created havoc with her on-the-ball pressure and hit some shots to help the Paladins get back in the game. She hit a three-pointer and then knifed through the lane for a layup followed by a layup from McGuire to cut the lead to seven midway through the fourth quarter. The Paladins were unable to get any closer though as Union City pulled out a much-needed win coming off a loss to Teaneck.
“We didn’t play with the sense of urgency that we needed to be successful against a strong team like Union City,” said Hodge. “We compounded one mistake by making another mistake after that. Our team has athleticism, and we have depth, which showed at times today. We just came out flat and dug ourselves too big of a hole to get out of.”
Union City moved to 3-2 with the win. Guerra had a big week with 60 points in her last two games. Madrid and Brown added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Smith scored a career-high 12 points and Olivia Buckingham added 11 for Paramus Catholic (3-1).
The tests keep on coming in the week for the Soaring Eagles. They take on Paterson Kennedy today before a highly anticipated matchup against Morristown, a rematch of last year’s North 1 Group 4 section final won by Morristown and then a strong Northern Valley/Demarest squad.
“We have girls with talent and experience, but we need to come up with a vocal leader,” added Cueto. “You have to play for each other, and you have to earn it every single night. It’s not time to panic because we’re only 20 percent through our season. But before you know it you’re 30 percent through the season, then 40 percent, and then the counties are here. Our team must figure things out quickly before it ends up hurting us later in the season.”
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