After a tough loss to Elizabeth the night before, the Blue Devils were eager to respond as they prepared to face a tough conference opponent, the Union Catholic Vikings.
The Vikings, who entered the game at 3-3, aimed to maintain their momentum after a commanding win over Chatham in their previous game. They relied heavily on one standout player, 5-star 2028 recruit Malik Moore. Moore played a crucial role in the game and was a major contributor to the team’s success.
The game kicked off with an energetic atmosphere. The loud yelling and cheering from both fans made it clear this was going to be an intense Union County conference clash.
From the first whistle, both teams traded baskets back and forth. Senior tri-captain Jake Russell scored 7 points in the first quarter, but despite his quick start, the Blue Devils trailed 16-12 at the end of the period.
The second quarter mirrored the first, with both teams taking turns hitting shots. Scoring continued evenly throughout, but the Blue Devils found themselves down 29-23 as the half ended.
Throughout the game, Westfield had several good scoring chances. Russell acknowledged this, saying, “I think that we got to the shots that we wanted to. They just didn’t fall.”
As the third quarter began, it was clear this period would determine the outcome of the game. Senior tri-captain Max Maceacheron, who was Westfield’s high scorer with 28 points, hit three consecutive three-pointers, narrowing the score to 33-32 in UC’s favor.
Despite the comeback, the Vikings responded with a 16-2 run, with players like Moore making big contributions. Head coach Jim McKeon noted that allowing such a run was not ideal, saying, “The 3rd quarter wasn’t the best for us; we just have to keep working.”
By the end of the third quarter, the Vikings led 52-37. Westfield struggled with foul trouble and turnovers, and Russell said, “I’m impressed that we were even able to keep the game so close.”
A tired Blue Devil team made a final push in the fourth quarter, bringing the game within 9 points, but the Vikings finished strong and went on to win 67-55.
Despite the loss, McKeon praised his team’s efforts but also stressed the need for improvement. “We could have been cleaner, but I think we battled,” McKeon said. “Against a good team, you can’t go down that much and expect to hold momentum.”
The team will host the Somerville Pioneers on Saturday at 11 a.m. as they aim to build momentum before facing a tough conference opponent next week, the top 5-ranked Linden Tigers.
