Photo By Kim North Union Local’s Jacob Stroud (13) shoots for two of his game-high 23 points Wednesday night as the Jets soared past Harrison Central 54-45 in boys’ high school basketball action inside ‘The Hangar’ in Morristown. Defending are the Huskies’ Lance Smith (2) and Chaz Culbertson (4).

MORRISTOWN — A fast start allowed Union Local to begin the 2025-26 boys’ high school basketball season on a winning note Wednesday night.

The Jets scored 21 points in the first quarter in a wire-to-wire, 54-45, decision over visiting Harrison Central in a mutual season-opener inside ‘The Hangar’ on the Union Local schools campus.

“Obviously, it’s great to get the year started with a win,” a happy Union Local head coach Zach Delman said. “It wasn’t pretty but we expected that. We started five guys that had never started a varsity basketball game in their career … not one of them.

“When you’re breaking in an entirely new starting five like we are, we’re going to have some growing pains,” Delman explained. “I was really impressed with our first quarter. We came out energetic.”

The outside-inside duo of Jacob Stroud and Brody Kerns combined for 37 points as Stroud knocked down four trifectas among his game-high 23 points. Kerns worked the paint for 14 points and seven rebounds.

“We dug ourselves a hole in the first two minutes and Union Local came out ready to play,” Harrison Central head coach Nick Yourkovich said. “They executed a lot better than we did. That’s on me. We will address that in practice.”

Stroud got off to a flying start with 10 of his points in the first eight minutes. He had half of his treys in the opening quarter.

“He’s a scorer and his game is coming along,” Delman said. “We’ve got some guys that can score, but we’re constantly going to preach to spread the wealth.”

Harrison Central trailed 21-11 after one quarter but cut the deficit to 32-24 at the half as Bryson Kamarec netted 10 of his team-high 17 in the quarter.

The Huskies cut the deficit to three, 39-36, with a little under three minutes left in the third quarter, but Union Local scored five of the final six points of the quarter to restore a 44-37 margin.

An 8-2 run to start the final eight minutes brought Harrison Central to within two, 47-45, but some untimely turnovers down the stretch did it in.

“In the second half, we need to do better,” Delman noted. “But, as I’ve said, we’re a work in progress.”

“We had a chance, but once again, lack of execution. That’s on me as the head coach,” Yourkovich added.

Bam Porter added nine points for Union Local, while Brady Hyre had seven for Harrison Central.

The Jets held a commanding 25-14 advantage off the glass as Kerns led the way. The Huskies charted one more turnover at 17-16.