December 21, 2010
Rising up
Union City's Angie Estrada drives to the hoop for two of her 18 points yesterday.
Click her for photos from St. Anthony at Union City
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
UNION CITY – Union City knows they face a size disadvantage virtually every time it hits the court. But yesterday was another reminder by these Soaring Eagles that defense and intensity can cut any opponent down to size.
Using primarily a four-guard lineup late, Union City's defense stood tall, allowing just three points while forcing seven turnovers in the final 4:30 of the game to hold off St. Anthony 51-44.
“We went to the land of muchkins,” said Soaring Eagles head coach Charlie Roussel, referring to the lineup as one from ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ “We put in four guards and Amanada (Casillas) was our biggest player, who is probably (at most) 5-foot-6. She was our biggest player on the floor and the pace really helped us.”
Clinging to a 43-41 lead, Union City (2-0) effectively shut down the bigger Friars offense.
Five potential game-tying possessions from St. Anthony (0-2) came and went without any points before Union City’s Jovanique Meneses’ layup and Kristina Rivera’s jump gave the Soaring Eagles a six-point cushion.
Cassandra Houghton broke up the Friars’ offensive draught with a 3-pointer to make it 47-44 with 50 seconds late. But Union City’s defense continued to rise to the occasion. Rivera stole a pair of inbounds passes (two of St. Anthony turnovers in the stretch) and Angie Estrada connected on four consecutive free throws to ice the game.
“We have kids that can play and score, but we made so many mistakes,” St. Anthony head coach Tony Jackson said. “We could have come in and stole this one.”
“They’ve been giving up (size) their whole life so they’re used to it,” Roussel said. “These girls are used to being small on the court. Their determination and their hard work is what turns teams over.”
Estrada was the driving force for the diminutive Union City lineup. Standing at just barely 5-feet tall, the senior scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half. With her team trailing 30-22 early in the third, Estrada scored six points in an 8-0 Soaring Eagles run to tie the game.
“She’s an energy pack,” Roussel said. “Since she was a 14-year-old kid she’s laid it all on the line and she’s hungry this year, she wants to win.”
“You could be 6’8” and I could put (Angie) on you and she’ll try to cover you,” Jackson said. “If I could get everyone to play with her energy, we’d be ok.”
Estrada added four rebounds and three steals in the victory and was the lone player on Union City to finish in double figures.
Jocelyn Morales buried a trio of 3-pointers to finish with nine points. Menesis and Casillas scored six points apiece. Casillas, a transfer from County Prep, added eight rebounds and five steals.
Na’Quell Simmons had a double-double for the Friars with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Wa’Keemah Sawyer scored 12 points. Megan Hart just missed out on a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds. Nadirah Durr added 11 rebounds for the Friars, whom after falling behind 13-2 early, scored 28 of the next 37 points to take an eight-point lead.
