Ludlowe/Warde Basketball

Ludlowe's Matt Vivona waits for a pass during the boys game

Friday night was the annual Ludlowe vs Warde basketball doubleheader. The 2021-2022 edition was held at Ludlowe. It was great to have a packed gym as capacity was allowed to be 100%. 

Last year, only parents of players were allowed and the games were split, with the girls playing at Warde and the boys playing at Ludlowe. 

Both games were very good, close games. The girls played first with the Ludlowe coming away with a 37-35 victory. In the nightcap, the Warde boys defeated Ludlowe 48-36. 

In the girls game, Ludlowe held an 18-13 lead at half. In the third quarter, Warde outscored the Falcons 16-9 to take a 29-27 lead after three. Ludlowe got the lead back early in the fourth, but could never pull away and the game came down to Ludlowe hitting foul shots and Warde with a shot at the end to win the game. 

In the boys game, Ludlowe held the lead after the first quarter, 10-6. Then in the second quarter, Warde doubled up Ludlowe, outscoring then 14-7 to take a 20-17 lead at half. The game remained tight throughout the second half, with Warde holding onto a five point lead with five and a half minutes to go, before the Mustangs were able to increase their lead a bit. 

Both games were hard fought and what the town rivalry is all about. 

Having the student sections at the game is what makes the atmosphere so great. Both student sections, The Stampede and The Nest, were large and loud. 

The rivalry games also bring out a lot of town people and just basketball people, in addition to the parents and other people who always come to Ludlowe or Warde games. 

It didn't seem like there were as many town people there, but Ludlowe's gym is not that big, so maybe, due to COVID, certain people who might normally come, decided not to. 

In the sub-varsity games, the Ludlowe JV girls won earlier on Friday afternoon, while the Warde boys scored with under 10 seconds to play to win the JV boys game on Friday. 

On Saturday in the freshman games, Warde came away victorious in both. 

Personally, and I know I Tweeted this, I am happy these games are over. When I was in high school and then still around after that, I loved these games. Once I started to work at both schools, they are still exciting, but days I dread. Having to play both sides and get comments from so many people is interesting. Plus, there's so much that goes into these games that is more than just the games and I get way too stressed out (mostly for no reason). 

It's just one game on the calendar and there are more games to be played this season for all the teams.