Jayden Oden leads Uniondale to win over Syosset
Jayden Oden of Uniondale takes his foul shot tying the game with less than 10 seconds left in regulation against Syosset on Monday. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Jayden Oden is only a sophomore, but he’s a confident 6-4 guard who’s a downhill force and a formidable task to stop inside.
“I’m really confident going to the basket,” Oden said. “In my opinion, nobody can stop me. The only way they can stop me is to foul me or hurt me.”
Syosset didn’t hurt him, but he sure hurt Syosset.
Oden scored 20 of his career-high 26 points after halftime for Uniondale Monday night. He made nine field goals and eight shots from the line — including five in OT — to help power the Knights to a 62-58 road victory in Nassau I boys basketball.
“Jayden’s developing very well,” Uniondale coach Jaaz Styles said.
Styles’ Knights don’t have it easy right now.
“We had a flood, unfortunately,” Styles said. “A pipe burst in our gym about maybe two weeks ago. So we haven’t practiced in two weeks.”
Still, Styles feels his young, athletic group with size and length could contend for a county title after gaining experience last season in a run that ended in the Nassau AAA semifinals. They’re off to a 4-1 start.
“We have a lot of potential this year,” Oden said.
So does Syosset (3-2), with experienced hands back and help from an 18-1 JV.
“I think we’re just as good as anybody,” coach Greg Cardona said.
But . . .
“If we’re going to turn the ball over in crucial situations, it’s really tough,” Cardona said.
Two Syosset turnovers in the last 2 1⁄2 minutes of regulation helped Uniondale force overtime.
The Knights scored eight points in the extra session — all from the foul line.
Oden spun in the lane, was fouled on the way up and made two for a 59-56 lead with 1:53 left. Syosset couldn’t convert its next three shots, two of them three-point tries.
It had been up by 49-42 with 3:53 left in the fourth.
But Uniondale, which trailed 28-20 at halftime, rallied. Dylan Hickman, who scored 20, made a layup off a turnover — 51-51. Jayden Barrows then scored off his offensive rebound to give the Knights the lead.
Sammy Etra finished a 16-point effort by hitting his fifth three with just under 26 seconds to go, good for a 54-53 Syosset edge. But Oden made one of two at the line with 9.5 remaining. On to overtime.
“Finally defending,” Styles said of the key. “ . . . Our attention to detail still has to pick up with this young team.”
