Union Hill was last crowned HCIAA Boys’ Basketball Champion in 1955. It’s been five long decades, 53 long years since the Hillers last reigned supreme in Hudson County.
Sure, there have been NJSIAA state sectional titles along the way, three in all. There have been countless close calls, including last year’s team that won the HCIAA Coviello Division regular season crown, only to fall to Lincoln in the playoff finals.
But it’s the longest drought of all Hudson County schools, 53 years without a county crown.
So since this is the last season of Union Hill basketball, considering that rival Emerson will merge with Union Hill to form one Union City High School in the fall, wouldn’t it be fitting if the current version of the Hillers created a little slice of history in their final season?
Head coach Carlos Cueto would certainly love for that to happen.
“We’ve had a good three-year run and that’s even better than history,” Cueto said. “We’ve exceeded expectations every year. I think history will take care of itself. But of course it would be great if we were able to win it this year in the final year of the school. It would be the icing on the cake. It was a pretty good accomplishment to win the regular season league last year, but it would be a bigger accomplishment if we could win it all in the last year of the school. It would be a nice way to end it.”
Considering that the Hillers currently own an 8-2 overall record and a 3-0 mark in the HCIAA Coviello, after defeating defending champion Lincoln on the road in Jersey City last week, Union Hill has just as good of a shot as anyone else to wear the county crown come the last week of February.
“I think we have a team that can reach those heights,” said Cueto, the former St. Anthony and University of Richmond standout. “But we also can be had any night as well. I think that can be said for any team in the league. It’s that competitive and close and that has been proven over the first two weeks of the league season. We just have to make sure that our kids realize every game is the most important game of the season to them. It’s important for us to get the home court [advantage] in the first two rounds of the playoffs.”
One of the major reasons why the Hillers have to be considered as one of the teams to beat in the HCIAA Coviello has been the play of senior forward Jewry Hernandez, who has gone from a little-used reserve and prominent football player to one of the premier post performers in the entire league.
The 6-foot-4 Hernandez is averaging close to 18 points and 10 rebounds per game and has cemented himself as a solid post presence. Hernandez had 30 points and 15 rebounds in a recent win over Snyder, a game where Hernandez canned the game-winning jump shot with just one second left.
“I always knew that he was capable of this,” Cueto said of Hernandez, who earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors in the fall as a wide receiver. “He played behind our seniors last year and took a little bit of a backseat. But this year, he’s just been unstoppable. We’re trying to figure out ways how to get him the ball more. The other day, he was absolutely amazing. I never thought he could go and get 30 and 15. I think everyone else on the team is realizing how easy the game is when we get Jewry the ball.”
Incredibly, Hernandez’ surge to the top of the county’s post players came after he had to sit out a suspension imposed by Cueto.
“He didn’t show up on time for a practice, so I sat him,” Cueto said. “Since that time, he’s been so aggressive and he’s really unstoppable. I think he realizes that he’s a senior and this us it for him. He’s not taking a backseat to anyone. Maybe other people are surprised with what Jewry has done, but I’m not surprised at all. He totally changes the face of our entire team.”
Another key performer for the Hillers is senior guard Justin Sanchez, who is one of the lone returning starters from last year’s county finalists. The 6-0 Sanchez has developed into a solid floor leader and fiery inspiration, taking on a lot of the characteristics of his coach.
“Sanchez is such a big part of this team because he got a little taste of it last year and knows what I expect from him,” Cueto said. “He realizes his importance. He’s such a good kid and everyone roots for him because he is that way.”
Sanchez is averaging close to 12 points per game. He had 18 points in the big revenge victory over Lincoln.
Another key performer is Andrew Valencia, a transfer from Hudson Catholic. The senior Valencia, who is a 5-7 guard (but is more than likely even shorter) played two years of varsity at Hudson Catholic and made the move to Union Hill this year.
“He’s as tough as nails,” Cueto said of Valencia. “He’s been schooled and knows how to play. He knows how to do the right things on the floor. But his best attribute is his toughness.”
The rest of the team is certainly small, but scrappy. Jonathan Argueto is the team’s best long-range shooter and can nail the 3-pointer with the best of them.
Stephen Arxer is another guard who provides leadership and court savvy. Jose Matta comes in off the bench and gives the team a huge spark.
“Every time he enters a game, he gives us so much energy,” Cueto said. “He’s all over the court and does everything you can dream of. He’s an incredible volleyball player and played football for the first time this year. He’s just a very good athlete.”
The Hillers are an aggressive bunch, playing with fire and desire every night. They’re also a close-knit, unselfish team, which is also a solid trait.
“It always helps when the kids play hard,” Cueto said. “Maybe they’re taking a little bit of it from me. I wasn’t the most talented kid when I played, but I always tried to work harder than anyone else. If these kids can understand that, then they’ll be fine. I think I expect more from them than they do. I know that they’re good, but they still have to push themselves to be better.”
So who knows what the future holds for both Cueto and the Hillers? There is a lot of the final season left.
“You know, we don’t even discuss that this is the last year, but the kids obviously know,” Cueto said. “It’s not something we repeat and drill into their heads, but they understand. I think it makes them all want it a little more.”
It’s been a fantastic final season for the Hillers thus far. As for the other Union City school, well, Emerson is 8-2 as well.
Needless to say, it should make for some interesting moments down the home stretch for both school’s respective season and respective legacies.