45°
The Fairfield PAL Storm seventh-grade girls basketball team trailed for three quarters during Sunday's Fairfield County Basketball League game against Wilton. Then Sarah Cotto took over.
Cotto scored 14 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, as the Storm rallied for a 34-24 victory to improve to 3-0 on the season. Cotto took charge despite bumping her head in the third quarter and having to sit on the sidelines. She returned with determination and ran the floor, rebounded and scored to spark Fairfield's surge.
"We woke up in the fourth quarter and played a great game,'' Len Sabia said. "I kept waiting for them to get going."
Wilton led most of the game, taking a 15-10 halftime advantage and a 22-17 lead after three. Wilton's tallest player, Rachel Gordon, fouled out with 6:21 remaining, and Cotto took over. Her driving layup in transition with 5:25 left gave Fairfield its first lead, 25-24. Lejla Markovic followed with a basket to put Fairfield up 27-24, and the Storm closed out the game with 13-0 run. Markovic and Ashley Sabia give Fairfield a potent guard combination that few teams can match.
"These girls are very dedicated,'' coach Sabia said. "They play all year and really want to become good basketball players."
The Storm won the B Division title in the FCBL last year. They are one of three teams off to undefeated starts in league play this winter, with games coming up this weekend against St. Mary's of Ridgefield and New Fairfield.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.
