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The Fairfield PAL eighth-grade girls basketball team had won three games by four points heading into Sunday's championship game of the B Division of the Fairfield County Basketball League. Coming down to the final two minutes Sunday against Bridgeport Trumbull Gardens, Fairfield found itself in another tight one. Only this time, the girls couldn't pull it out.
Bridgeport defeated Fairfield, 50-48, in a thrilling championship game at Danbury High School. Maggie Salandra scored 12 points to lead a balanced attack for Fairfield, which finishes the season at 17-5.
The score was tied at 48-48 with 1:00 to play after a basket by Fairfield's Katie Gardella (10 points). Bridgeport went ahead to stay just 10 seconds later. Fairfield missed two free throws on its next trip down the floor, and Bridgeport answered with a free throw. Fairfield missed a field goal on its next opportunity, and Bridgeport held on.
Jackie Brewster scored eight points for Fairfield, and Jaclyn Lanese added seven.
Bridgeport led for most of the game, taking a 24-18 halftime lead and a 35-31 lead into the third quarter. Fairfield scored the first four points of the fourth quarter on baskets by Lanese and Brewster to quickly tie it. The game stayed within three points until the final 3.9 seconds. Bridgeport was helped by two critical three-pointers during the fourth to hold off a valiant effort by Fairfield.
Fairfield had a terrific season, finishing 12-1 in the league before its strong showing in the tournament. It defeated Stamford, 33-31, in its first tournament game before hanging on for a 34-33 win over Norwalk. It reached the championship with a 33-32 win over Newtown. It came into the championship game with 10 wins in its last 11 games.
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