FAIRFIELD, Conn. After a slow start, Fairfield Wardes girls basketball team has looked like one of the best teams in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Further evidence came Friday in a convincing 52-40 victory over Staples.
Jamera Fountain scored 19 points and Kate Kerrigan added 13 as the Mustangs won their fifth straight game to improve to 9-5 overall and 7-5 in the conference. Staples fell to 8-6, 7-5 in the conference, with its third straight loss.
I like the way the seniors are finishing out their careers, I like how people are staying healthy, coach Dave Danko said. Were playing like a team. This is fun.
Kerrigans basket with 4:38 left in the first quarter put Warde up 4-2, and the Mustangs were ahead for good. The Mustangs led 12-4 after the first quarter and 24-17 at halftime. The lead ballooned to as much as 17 in the second half.
Kerrigan scored nine in the first half to get Warde off to a strong start. Fountain poured in 13 in the second half, and sophomore Kaitlin McKenna came off the bench to add seven points.
The win was critical for Warde as it tries to secure one of the eight conference playoff berths. Warde and Staples are among four teams tied for the seventh playoff spot with 7-5 conference marks. With just six games left in the regular season, the race for the final playoff slots could come down to head-to-head tiebreakers.
The girls are believing, Danko said. When we lost those first few games, we had to encourage them. We told them that if they get prepared and listen to us, lets see what happens. I really like the way were playing.
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