Super Saturday of FCIAC Basketball

Warde's Brendan O'Hara plays defense against Trumbull (My photo)

It was Super Saturday in high school boys basketball, also known as the FCIAC boys basketball quarterfinals. 

Eight teams, four games, all at Fairfield Warde. Always a fun, long, crazy day. 

The schedule and matchups were as follows: 

No. 3 Danbury vs. No. 6 Stamford, Noon

No. 2 Warde vs. No. 7 Trumbull, 2 p.m.

No. 4 Staples vs. No. 5 Wilton, 5 p.m.

No. 1 Ridgefield vs. No. 8 New Canaan, 7 p.m.

Danbury and Stamford was back and forth throughout the game. A good battle. The Hatters did enough late to come away with an 11-point victory, 52-41, but the game was closer to the score. 

Danbury was led by Christian Jeffers 24 points, including nine points from the foul line. 

Game number two featured Warde, on their home floor, taking on Trumbull. The Mustangs took a 17-10 lead after one quarter and built a double-digit lead in the second quarter. At halftime, Warde led by 10 in a high-scoring affair, 40-30. 

Trumbull cut Warde's lead to four late in the third, before Jack Plesser's buzzer-beating three-pointer put the Mustangs up seven, 54-47 after three quarters.

No. 3 Danbury vs. No. 6 Stamford, Noon No. 2 Warde vs. No. 7 Trumbull, 2 p.m. No. 4 Staples vs. No. 5 Wilton, 5 p.m. No. 1 Ridgefield vs. No. 8 New Canaan, 7 p.m.

Video of Jack Plesser’s third quarter buzzer beater. (Video posted earlier accidentally got deleted) #ctbb pic.twitter.com/qinNlPUYCO

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) February 26, 2023

Warde held a 62-54 lead with 4:47 to play before Trumbull began to chip away. With 1:58 left, Trumbull took a one-point lead, 65-64. 

Warde tied the game at 65 with 1:30 left and the game would remain that was through the end of regulation. Both teams has a chance to win in the closing seconds, but turnovers hurt both teams. 

Overtime was a free-throw contest, as only one basket was made, but Trumbull hit more free throws to come away with a 76-70 victory. 

Luca Antonio and Brandon Fowler each had 18 points for Trumbull, while Sean Racette added 12. Jack Plesser had 33 points for Warde in the loss, which was the high for all scorers across the four games. 

To the nightcap portion of the day. 

Staples and Wilton were up next. This was a good battle between two good, similar teams. Both teams can shoot and and are also physical. Staples kept a lead throughout much of the game and came away with a 10 point victory, 53-43. 

Samson Clachko led Staples with 14 points, while Chris Zajac and Cody Sale each had 13 for the Wreckers in the victory. 

The final game of the night was the top seeded Ridgefield Tigers taking on the New Canaan Rams. Two teams that play great defense, slow the game down and run good offensive sets. 

This often means low-scoring games. 

This was the case with this game. 

Ridgefield held a 9-7 lead after one thanks to a buzzer-beating floater in the lane by Evan Kozedba. 

End one: Ridgefield 9 New Canaan 7. Evan Kozdeba floater beats the buzzer. #ctbb pic.twitter.com/dx6zwO46hv

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) February 26, 2023 

At the break, Ridgefield led by three 21-18. 

The Tigers tried to pull away in the third as the built up a seven point lead, 33-24 with two minutes left in the quarter, and were getting New Canaan into foul trouble, with seven team fouls in the first six minutes of the half. 

After three, Ridgefield led 35-27. 

Ridgefield just extended their lead in the fourth to pull away for the double-digit victory 47-33.  

Ridgefield was led by Sean Sosa's 10 points. He was the only Tiger is double-figures as they got very balanced scoring across the board. Jack Hladick led New Canaan with nine points. 

Danbury will face Trumbull in the first game of the FCIAC semifinals on Tuesday at 5:30pm at Wilton High School and Staples and Ridgefield will follow. The winners will meet in the FCIAC Championship on Thursday.*

*The dates are subject to change with possible snow this week. Visit FCIAC.net for updates/changes. 

It was interesting to see no media at the games. Normally, there are reporters from multiple outlets and often multiple reporters from the same outlet doing different things at these games. Also, we need professional, qualified broadcasters on these games. It's disappointing as the student-athletes and teams deserve the coverage. 

Falcons Are The Champions

The Ludlowe girls basketball team continued their perfect season on Thursday as they won the FCIAC Championship, defeating St. Joseph, 52-42 at Trumbull High School. 

It's the first FCIAC girls basketball title for Ludlowe girls basketball. Fairfield High won the title back-to-back in 1997 and 1998 and Warde won the championship in 2009. 

Ludlowe got out to a lead in the first quarter, thanks to two Rory Kudzy three-pointers, and led 10-8 after one. The Falcons never looked back. 

Ludlowe increased their lead to 16-10 with 3:25 left in the half, and then led 19-12 at the break. 

The Falcons built up a double-digit lead in the third quarter, taking a lead as large as 13, before finishing the third up 11, 39-28. 

St. Joseph chipped away in the fourth, cutting the deficit to as little as five, 44-39. Ludlowe was able to hit free throws down the stretch 

Huge congratulations to Head Coach Sara Kinsley and her coaching staff. Kinsley was named FCIAC Coach of the Year.  

Caitlin Finnegan, who had 14 points, was named FCIAC Championship Game MVP. Finnegan's presence was felt on the defensive end as well, blocking shots and altering many others. 

Kudzy and Phoebe Shostak each finished with 13 points. 

Madison Roman was named FCIAC Player of the Year, which was announced at halftime, along with the All-FCIAC teams. 

Other Falcons receiving FCIAC honors included, Kaleigh Sommers first team, Finnegan second team,  Kudzy 3rd team, and Shostak and Kate Cimador Honorable Mention.

This team has battled adversity, both on and off the court this year, and play for each other and care about the team. That's what makes a successful team. 

Ludlowe currently sits at 23-0 and turns their attention to the state tournament. They earned a first round bye and will open up at home on next Friday, March 3rd. 

FCIAC Playoff Girls Basketball and Special Night At Hockey

Warde and New Canaan basketball action

It seems like winter Saturday's often end up being busy sports days around these parts. 

Well, today was no different. 

It started out at Staples with Warde girls basketball playing New Canaan in the first game of "Super Saturday," the FCIAC girls basketball quarterfinals. 

Warde defeated New Canaan 46-32. The Mustangs will face St. Joseph, who defeated Danbury, on Tuesday at 7:45pm at Trumbull High School in the FCIAC Semifinals. 

After the Warde game, I went home for a stretch, missing St. Joes and Danbury. I went back for the last of the four, as Ludlowe played Greenwich. 

Getting there early, I got to see the end of Trumbull and Ridgefield, a really good game that Trumbull won. 

As for Ludlowe and Greenwich, The Falcons got out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 62-36 victory. 

Ludlowe will play Trumbull on Tuesday at 6pm at Trumbull in the first FCIAC semifinal. 

After the Ludlowe game, it was off to Wonderland of Ice for Fairfield and Greenwich in hockey. It was Charlie Capalbo Night as the late Fairfield goalie was honored and his number was retired. Charlie passed away from Cancer in April after a long battle. 

The retired jersey. No. 30

I'll be honest, due to basketball, I didn't get there in time for the ceremony, but from what I've seen, seems like it was well done. Lots of Charlie and "30" items around the rink. 

As for the game, Fairfield won 2-0, which secures them the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the FCIAC tournament, which begins next Saturday. 

Perfection

Perfection - the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.

The Ludlowe girls basketball team finished off a perfect 20-0 regular season on Wednesday night. 

It's just the third undefeated regular season in Fairfield basketball history. The second on the girls side. 

The 2008-2009 Fairfield Warde girls basketball team, coached by Dave Danko, went 26-0, before losing to Hillhouse in the state championship. Thanks to Coach Danko for pointing this out. 

The 1992-1993 Fairfield High School (One Town) boys basketball team, coached by Dave Schulz, went 20-0 before losing to Trinity Catholic in the FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) Championship. They then lost in the state quarterfinals. 

For the Ludlowe girls, it's a season that has seen many wins by large margins, as well as some by lesser margins. No matter the score, a win is a win, and they figure out ways to get it done. 

They really are a TEAM. So many options. An amazing senior class, and terrific underclassman as well. The six seniors, Kaleigh Sommers, Madison Roman, Rory Kudzy, Caitlin Finnegan, Amelia Keresey and Caroline Keresey. 

A terrific job by head coach Sara Kinsley and her staff. 

The job isn't done, however. Now comes the postseason. 

Hopefully eight more games. Three in the FCIAC tournament and five in the state tournament*. That's the ultimate goal. It's one game at a time, however. 

*They play in the state tournament no matter what happens in the FCIAC tournament. They have qualified for both. They are separate tournaments and it's easier to qualify for states than the conference tournament. 

Game one of the FCIAC tournament is Saturday at 7pm vs Greenwich at Staples High School in Westport. 

The full FCIAC girls basketball quarterfinal schedule for Saturday at Staples is as follows: 

1pm - No. 3 Warde vs No. 6 New Canaan

3pm - No. 2 St. Joseph vs No. 7 Danbury

5pm - No. 4 Ridgefield vs No. 5 Trumbull

7pm - No. 1 Ludlowe vs No. 8 Greenwich

The semifinals are Tuesday at Trumbull High School at 6pm and 7:45pm. The championship is Thursday at 7pm at Trumbull. 

See you Saturday from Westport. 

Chiefs Are The Champions

Photo: Getty Images

The Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions. 

Kansas City defeated the Eagles 38-35 in a tremendous ballgame. 

It's the Chiefs second championship in four years and Patrick Mahomes' second Super Bowl MVP, after winning the NFL MVP for the regular season earlier in the week. 

What everyone is talking about is the holding call late in the game on the Eagles. You can read more about that play elsewhere. 

My thoughts are that it was probably the right call but tough in that spot. And the Chiefs still would have likely gotten the field goal, just would have given the Eagles more time. 

But to the rest of the game. What Patrick Mahomes did, especially on an injured ankle, in the second half was legendary. 

Jalen Hurts was good also. 

The Kansas City defense getting the fumble return for the TD and the big punt return were huge plays that may get overlooked with the play of Mahomes and the controversial call, but are just as big of factors in the Chiefs winning. 

It was a really good game. Lots of drama and great players making great plays. That's all you can ask for. 

Andy Reid gets the Super Bowl ring against his former team and Travis Kelce gets the championship over his brother, Jason. Cool stories! 

The broadcast crew of Kevin Burkhart and Greg Olsen on Fox was really good. KB is a pro and Olsen knows what analysis to add when. The two of them have great chemistry. 

Erin Andrews is a solid sideline reporter and Tom Rinaldi is off-the charts fantastic as a narrator and story teller. He tells those heart-wrenching stories better than anyone. 

Time for an the NFL offseason. Major storyline in what will happen with Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully we find out sooner rather than later. 

Oh and bring on baseball season! 

Ludlowe/Warde Basketball Doubleheader

The Ludlowe and Warde boys come together in support of Coaches vs Cancer (the girls did too)

Another year of Ludlowe vs Warde basketball is in the books. 

It's always a crazy day, Insane atmosphere, good basketball, and a great night for the town. 

The student sections from both schools were into it, which always makes the games more fun. 

On the court, we got a split affair. The Ludlowe girls won 55-40, while the Warde boys won 77-46. 

The games are used as Coaches vs Cancer games to raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

Great job by all the parents involved from both schools with all the organizing of the t-shirts, the cards with who each person is playing for, the concession stand and anything else that was done that I may be missing. Things have changed over the years with what is done, but always done well. Hopefully, a lot of money was raised. 

Ludlowe and Warde play in every sport (other than the ones they are co-op) but there is something different about basketball from any other sport, in my opinion. 

Maybe because it's inside, rather than outside and you get a lot of "town people" who have no current affiliation with either school currently. 

Maybe it also has to do with the fact of personally for me how invested I am with the basketball. 

I'm not really sure. There are a lot of reasons and it could be a combination of reasons. 

Either way, I'm happy the night is over. 

Time for the remainder of the regular season and then the post season. 

Duke, Nets and World Cancer Day

It was a quiet Saturday, but I got to watch a lot of basketball. 

I watched parts of a number of games, but most noticeably, Duke vs UNC and Nets/Wizards. 

Let's start with the college rivalry. We will get to the Nets. 

Neither of the North Carolina teams separated by 10 miles are having a great year. Neither are currently ranked in the top 25. 

That being said, whenever the two schools play in basketball, it's always a hyped up and often a very competitive game. This was no different. It came down to the final few minutes with the team from Durham getting the win at home in Cameron Indoor. 

The rivalry has been back and forth over the years. Last year, the two teams split the regular season matchups for UNC came away victorious in the Final Four. 

This was the first of two meetings this year. They will meet in Chapel Hill later in the season. 

It's one of the best rivalries in sports. To me, it's right up there with Yankees/Red Sox and Lakers/Celtics. 

Now, let's get to the Nets....

Boy is there a lot to talk about. 

On Friday, Kyrie Irving was once again in the news, and once again it wasn't good. 

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Irving has requested a trade before Thursday's trade deadline, or will leave this summer in free agency. 

Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2023

It's always something with Kyrie. 

As for the game today, the Nets came back from down 23 points to defeat the Wizards. Irving was out as he was on the injury report with what was called a calf injury. Interesting timing. I'll leave it at that.  

Also out for the Nets was Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons with injuries. They had 10 active players when the game began. Towards the end of the game, the Nets have eight players to use as Markieff Morris and Seth Curry both went out with injuries. 

Cam Thomas put the team on his back with 44 points off the bench in 29 minutes to help lead the comeback win. 

I've written about the Nets dysfunction before. They are tough to root for. I'll still be loyal but they don't make it easy. 

That being said, today's win, even being a random February regular season win, is special. The players who were there overcame adversity, ignored the distractions as best they could, and played for each other. That's a character building win. 

Winning is about the team, not one person. It's about a culture and having the right pieces to fit that culture. That's what the Nets need to figure out. 

I don't see Kyrie on the team much longer. I don't see how you can keep him. 

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On a different topic, today is World Cancer Day. We think about those who have lost their battle to this awful disease, those who have beaten it, and those who are currently fighting. It's also about those who have supported the people directly impacted. So many people have been touched by Cancer and it's had an effect on people even if they were not directly impacted.