The barest chance lingered. Theo Sica nearly seized it.
Sica’s attempt at a game-tying 3-point heave, launched from half court at the final buzzer, arrowed toward the hoop, slicing toward the basket as if yanked by an unseen force. Alas. Back iron. Front iron. No good.
Sica slapped the wall padding twice, frustrated, as the buzzer’s mournful blare faded into the air. The miss cemented Union’s 48–45 victory over Westfield in Thursday’s season opener.
The riveting ending seemed fitting after a game that felt ripped from its moorings. The lead seesawed in the second half. A spate of turnovers struck. Bodies tumbled to the floor. The ball bounced haphazardly. Neither team could find its groove.
In other words, it was opening day.
“Inexperience really comes out when you get pressure in your face,” head coach James McKeon said. “We gave them the game, but they’re a good team. We didn’t play our best ball and it’s unfortunate, but it’s game one. It’s a long season.”
Turnovers and missed free throws haunted the Blue Devils. Westfield surrendered 15 turnovers and shot 53 percent from the free-throw line. “Got to cut down on turnovers,” said senior co-captain Sica, who scored 11 points to lead Westfield in scoring alongside fellow senior co-captain TJ Halloran. “I feel like we handed them a lot of points.”
Despite the early-season sloppiness, Westfield had its chance. A Shane Sheehan jumper with 30 seconds left, which would have given Westfield a one-point lead, bounced four times before trickling off the rim. Sheehan, Westfield’s big man, scored 7 points as he reentered the fray after shaking off the remnants of a preseason injury.
Halloran and Sica both hit crucial shots at pivotal moments. The Blue Devils knocked incessantly at the door, but Union, led by Elijah Blackwell’s 13 points and Riley Flood’s 10 points, staved off the Blue Devils.
Westfield maintained a small buffer in the opening quarter, jumping to a 9-1 lead before Union clawed back. But then came a disorderly second quarter that seemed incongruous with Westfield’s efficient start to the game.
A 12-0 run propelled the Farmers from an early deficit to a significant advantage. Turnovers plagued Westfield, an airborne virus hopping from player to player as the quarter flashed by.
A scoring drought descended on Westfield. It lasted almost 7 minutes. Tyshawn Pearson snapped the drought with a nice finish at the rim, and Billy Ryan drilled a massive 3-pointer to help Westfield slice the deficit to 22–18 by halftime. But the damage was done. “The 12–0 run killed us,” McKeon said. “We had a lead, and then we turned the ball over. We just gave them too much life.”
Westfield started with a small lineup in an attempt to neutralize Union’s smallness. “We went little because they were little,” McKeon said. “That wasn’t the problem. Our problem was executing in moments where adversity hit, and hitting free throws.”
Westfield recovered in the third quarter, tenacious defense and superb ball movement setting the tone. But Union scored some tough buckets through contact, Westfield struggled from the line, and the Farmers edged out the Blue Devils.
It is early in the season yet, and the Blue Devils are young. Westfield started one freshman, two sophomores and two seniors. And though the young guys showed mettle—sophomore Zach Epp scored 5 of Westfield’s first 6 points—performances will improve as experience accrues.
Complicating matters for Westfield is senior co-captain Peter Meixner’s absence. Meixner is saddled with an injury that still is being evaluated. His route back to the court appears murky.
Even without Meixner and without experience or consistency, Westfield performed admirably in scratching back to within inches of victory.
“We have a lot of fight in this team,” Halloran said. “We didn’t give up at all. Even after a tough game, no one gave up on each other, which is great to see.”
The gut-wrenching loss will be a tough pill to swallow for the Blue Devils. But an opportunity for instant redemption presents itself. Westfield and Union Catholic will clash Saturday night. The Vikings finished 4-21 last year and lost their two games against Westfield by a combined 30 points.
The game proffers Westfield a straightforward opportunity to notch its first victory after a bumpy start to the season.
