2023 Fairfield Holiday Hoops

2023 Prep Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team 

Winter break means holiday tournament basketball around Fairfield on Wednesday and Thursday. 

There's the varsity girls' tournament, the Todd Burger Holiday Tournament, the boys' varsity tournament, The Fairfield Prep Holiday Classic, as well as a boys' JV tournament, the Walter Fitzgerald Tournament. 

The girls' tournament featured Ludlowe, Warde, Seymour and East Hampton.  

In the first round of Wednesday, East Hampton defeated Ludlowe 61-27 and Warde defeated Seymour 46-33. 

On Thursday in the consolation game, Ludlowe defeated Seymour 60-38. East Hampton took home the championship, defeating Warde 48-33. 

Congrats to Ludlowe's Kate Cimador and Warde's Emmy Carley on being named to the all-tournament team. 

As far as the JV boys' tournament, Prep won the title over Notre Dame. Ludlowe defeated Warde in the consolation game. In the first round, Prep edged Ludlowe and Notre Dame topped Warde. 

To the boys' varsity tournament, which features the four Fairfield high schools, Ludlowe, Warde, Notre Dame and Prep. Notre Dame won the title with a 68-41 victory over Ludlowe. In the consolation game, Warde defeated Prep 59-54. 

The All-Tournament team consisted of Will Kane of Prep, Ryan Moore of Warde, Tate Mahoney of Ludlowe, Nate Charlot of Notre Dame and Kamryn Salters of Notre Dame, who was named tournament most valuable player. 

Great job by everyone who was involved in hosting and running the tournaments. From all the coaches to Matt Narwold and Gina DiGiacomo at Warde and Tom Curran and Graham Nemi at Prep, This extends to everyone who worked the tables and contributed to the success of the tournament in many other ways. 

I was disappointed to see the lack of media covering the games. I know Fairfield Prep's students broadcasted some, but not all, of the boys' varsity tournament, but all these games should have professional coverage. That would be print or broadcast media or both. I get the reasons why, just disappointing.

I also wish we did more surrounding the reason that the girls' tournament is named in honor of Todd Burger and the boys JV tournament is named in honor of Walter Fitzgerald. Both men who lost their battles with cancer. In the past, there were donation efforts for the American Cancer Society. 

Always a great couple of days of basketball to end the calendar year. 

Now on to the rest of the season.