Plainfield Wins Defensive Battle over Union

Union vs. Plainfield

Location:  Union H.S., Union, NJ

                        1^st            2^nd            3^rd            4^th            FINAL

Plainfield          6               8              11             12              37

Union              10               6                4             16              36

In a game that wrote “TRAP” game, the Plainfield Cardinals would travel down 22 East to battle the Farmers of Union.  Plainfield was able to win the 1^st game against Union by 9-points but the game was never in control by the Cardinals.  The Farmers made many runs and a couple of bounces of the ball the outcome could have been different. Plainfield historically has one of the poorest shooting statistical numbers at the Lou Retino Gymnasium and a case of over confidence would definitely give Union the edge.

With Plainfield having the game in control, Union made a 4^th period run to take the lead and have victory in their clutch but a resilient Cardinal team was able to overcome a tough Union team for the 37-36 victory. 

The game started off with both teams looking to build a new gymnasium with the amount of bricks being thrown at the rim.  Plainfield would shoot 33% from the field while Union would connect at 29%.  The defensive effort of both teams caused a combined 9 turnovers for the first 8 minutes of play to give the game a lack of fluidity.  Emanuel Kema and T.J. McNair would both connect from deep to give Union the early momentum and the 10-6 lead after 1.

The dismal shooting from the field continued for both teams during the 2^nd period.  The defensive effort of both teams showed in the shooting percentage.  Both teams combined for 5 of 25 shooting from the field.  Plainfield would gain the slight advantage during the period on a trey by Clarence Hoover to help Plainfield narrow the game to two points with Union holding the advantage at the half, 16-14.

The momentum started to shift to Plainfield as Clarence Hoover would spark an 11-2 3^rd period closing run to give Plainfield the 25-20 lead heading into the final 8 minutes of the game.

Plainfield would open the lead to 10-points (33-23) at the 6:10 mark of the game on a Hoover trey.  Union would re-group and make the largest run of the game with a 13-1 run over a three-minute time frame.  Jordan Roberson would connect at the 1:58 mark of the game to give Union the 36-34 lead. 

Union’s Diego Rios would foul Plainfield’s Steve Jones putting Plainfield in the double-bonus.  Jones would connect on 1 of 2 free throws giving Union the 36-35 lead with 1:19 remaining.  Union would miss a field goal attempt with 0:35 remaining. Jachai Simmons grabs the rebound for Plainfield and outlet to Clarence Hoover.  Hoover slashes down the middle of the lane connecting on runner giving Plainfield the 37-36 lead with 0:13 remaining in the contest.  Union would call the immediate time out to regroup. Plainfield’s Jachai Simmons steals the ball for the open lay-up but a hustling Diego Rios would foul Simmons before completing the field goal.  With 0:06 remaining Simmons misses both free throws.  Union would grab the rebound and slash up court but Steven Jones steals the ball for Plainfield to secure the victory.

Game High Stats

Plainfield – Clarence Hoover – 21-points

Union – T.J. McNair – 10-rebounds

Union – Diego Rios – 3 assists

Plainfield – Jachai Simmons – 4 steals

Union – Diego Rios – 4 steals

Plainfield – Steve Jones – 2 blocks

Plainfield – Jaleel Simmons – 2 blocks