The Union Farmers coming off a brutal early season schedule came into the Rico Parenti Gymnasium battle tested. The youthful Cardinals have their own battle scars from defeating 4 teams that at one point were ranked in the top 20 in the state. The Farmers came in with one of the highest scorers in the county in Jonathan Merceous. The 6’5” Senior tried to carry his team against the Cardinal’s but the slamming Card’s turned back the Farmers.
Union’s defensive game plan was to ruff up the young Cardinals with 6’5” Senior James Daniels. Daniels pushed around young Sears and Allen-Jordan but the Cards countered the Farmers by dominating the glass and timely substitution of Dominique Blackmon. Blackmon is getting to be known as the man to shut down opponents offensive stars. Blackmon fully obliged. After scoring 15 points in the 1st half, Blackmon held Jonathan Merceous to 2 points in the 3rd period. Fellow Seniors Nate Grant-Dewitt and Ricky “the high-flyer” Terry countered the rough play when they used their experience to calm the Farmers. The Cardinals regained the lead and never looked back.
The most disappointing period for the Cards was the 1st. The Cards had some growing pains with the rough aggressive defense of the Farmers. The Farmers Jonathan Merceous was initiating the offense and controlling the boards. The Cards rebounded from the sluggish early start but Union out scored the Cardinals 14 – 13 in the first eight minutes.
The most impressive period for the Cardinals was the 3rd. The Cardinals Tyrone Johnson collected his 1,00
0th point on a 4 point flagrant foul. After shaking off the hard foul, two plays later Johnson soared down the lane on a fast break feed from Sekou Harris and slammed it home to get point 1,002. The Cardinals outscored the Farmers 20 – 13 to open up a 12 point lead.
The Plainfield Fanatic Efficient 5 for the game
1) Plainfield – Sophomore Justin Sears – 6’7” {ER – 25}
Justin scored a career high 17 points in his first year of varsity play. Justin continues to improve each game. His quickness, leaping ability, and length has help the Cards out rebound nearly every team this year. Sears shot 60% from the floor, shot 5 – 7 from the free throw line, grabbed a game high 8 rebounds, had a game high 3 rejections and only committed 1 turnover.
2) Plainfield – Junior Tyrone Johnson – 6’3” {ER – 23}
Johnson’s steady play gave him the Star Ledger Athlete of the Week. Johnson did not miss a beat by having a team high 21 points to push him into 9th place all time for the most points scored in a career in school history. Johnson also grabbed 5 rebounds, had 3 steals and hit 9 consecutive free throws before missing his 10th attempt from the foul line late in the 4th period.
3) Union – Senior Jonathan Merceous – 6’5” {ER – 21}
Merceous continues to score his 20 + points a game. Jonathan was the game high scorer with 22 points, of which 15 came in the 1st half. Jonathan also shot 5 – 7 from the free throw line and grabbed 8 rebounds while only committing 1 turnover.
4) Plainfield – Sophomore Sekou Harris – 5’8” {ER – 14}
Harris continues to lead the Cards in dishing the ball. Harris’s game high 4 assists led to 2 high percentage slams. Sekou collected a couple of steals and shot perfect from the foul line.
5) Union – Senior Brandom Mitchen 6’0” {ER – 13}
While the Cards were shutting down Merceous, Mitchen fully obliged with the focus off of himself. Mitchen hit 3 consecutive threes from well behind the 3 point line. Mitchen made all his points from behind the arc by shooting 4 – 6 from from deep.
The efficient rating was based on shooting accuracy, foul shooting accuracy, rebounds, assists, steals, defensive intensity, and turnovers.
Union’s defensive game plan was to ruff up the young Cardinals with 6’5” Senior James Daniels. Daniels pushed around young Sears and Allen-Jordan but the Cards countered the Farmers by dominating the glass and timely substitution of Dominique Blackmon. Blackmon is getting to be known as the man to shut down opponents offensive stars. Blackmon fully obliged. After scoring 15 points in the 1st half, Blackmon held Jonathan Merceous to 2 points in the 3rd period. Fellow Seniors Nate Grant-Dewitt and Ricky “the high-flyer” Terry countered the rough play when they used their experience to calm the Farmers. The Cardinals regained the lead and never looked back.
The most disappointing period for the Cards was the 1st. The Cards had some growing pains with the rough aggressive defense of the Farmers. The Farmers Jonathan Merceous was initiating the offense and controlling the boards. The Cards rebounded from the sluggish early start but Union out scored the Cardinals 14 – 13 in the first eight minutes.
The most impressive period for the Cardinals was the 3rd. The Cardinals Tyrone Johnson collected his 1,00
0th point on a 4 point flagrant foul. After shaking off the hard foul, two plays later Johnson soared down the lane on a fast break feed from Sekou Harris and slammed it home to get point 1,002. The Cardinals outscored the Farmers 20 – 13 to open up a 12 point lead.The Plainfield Fanatic Efficient 5 for the game
1) Plainfield – Sophomore Justin Sears – 6’7” {ER – 25}
Justin scored a career high 17 points in his first year of varsity play. Justin continues to improve each game. His quickness, leaping ability, and length has help the Cards out rebound nearly every team this year. Sears shot 60% from the floor, shot 5 – 7 from the free throw line, grabbed a game high 8 rebounds, had a game high 3 rejections and only committed 1 turnover.
2) Plainfield – Junior Tyrone Johnson – 6’3” {ER – 23}
Johnson’s steady play gave him the Star Ledger Athlete of the Week. Johnson did not miss a beat by having a team high 21 points to push him into 9th place all time for the most points scored in a career in school history. Johnson also grabbed 5 rebounds, had 3 steals and hit 9 consecutive free throws before missing his 10th attempt from the foul line late in the 4th period.
3) Union – Senior Jonathan Merceous – 6’5” {ER – 21}
Merceous continues to score his 20 + points a game. Jonathan was the game high scorer with 22 points, of which 15 came in the 1st half. Jonathan also shot 5 – 7 from the free throw line and grabbed 8 rebounds while only committing 1 turnover.
4) Plainfield – Sophomore Sekou Harris – 5’8” {ER – 14}
Harris continues to lead the Cards in dishing the ball. Harris’s game high 4 assists led to 2 high percentage slams. Sekou collected a couple of steals and shot perfect from the foul line.
5) Union – Senior Brandom Mitchen 6’0” {ER – 13}
While the Cards were shutting down Merceous, Mitchen fully obliged with the focus off of himself. Mitchen hit 3 consecutive threes from well behind the 3 point line. Mitchen made all his points from behind the arc by shooting 4 – 6 from from deep.
The efficient rating was based on shooting accuracy, foul shooting accuracy, rebounds, assists, steals, defensive intensity, and turnovers.
**Picture by R. Sears
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