FAIRFIELD, Conn. With six games left in the regular season, the Fairfield Warde girls basketball team is one of several squads scrambling for a playoff berth in the eight-team Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference tournament.
The way the Mustangs are playing, they figure to make the playoffs and could even challenge for the title.
Warde won its fifth straight over Staples on Friday, 52-40, to improve to 9-5 overall and 7-5 in the conference. They are one of five teams tied for seventh seed (eight will make the league playoffs). The Mustangs have also won eight of their last nine heading into Tuesdays 7 p.m. game vs. New Canaan at Warde.
After losing four of their first five games, the Mustangs have rallied behind their five senior starters to become one of the hottest teams in the league under veteran coach Dave Danko.
I like the atmosphere in the gym, Danko said. I like the way the seniors are finishing their careers. I like that everyone is healthy. I like that were playing like a team. This is fun. This is very enjoyable as a coach.
Warde has several advantages as it heads toward the seasons homestretch. One is experience, as the Mustangs start five seniors in Jamera Fountain, Carly Mappa, Jerelyn Luther, Kate Kerrigan and Brielle Lanese. The last third of a season, to have five seniors that know your system and can lead the others is a significant element to any team, Staples coach Ed Huydic said. And Daves been doing a great job with them.
The other dimension that makes Warde such a threat is its balance. Jamera Fountain leads the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game. Tiara Fountain (9.1 ppg), Kerrigan (7.7) and Lanese (6.7) give Danko some other scoring options, which is critical if a player gets in early foul trouble.
Wardes other strength is its defense, which has allowed 43 points or fewer in six of its last seven games. Its only hiccup in that span was a 65-41 loss to Danbury, which is 14-0 and the only undefeated team in the league.
Beginning Tuesday against New Canaan, five of Wardes last six games are against teams fighting for playoff berths. Its not inconceivable the Mustangs could run the table and enter the tournament on an 11-game winning streak. That thought seemed implausible after the rocky start, but Danko fought to keep the teams spirit up, and it has been rewarded with a strong run.
I think the kids believed, said Danko, whose team has qualified for the state playoffs for the 19th straight year. We had to encourage them. It wasnt trying to beat them. We told them were a good team. I told them well go out and scout every team, and you guys come in prepared, you listen, and well see what happens. Now were on this nice run. This is what its about. The kids are feeling good about themselves.
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