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A 52-28 loss to Stamford was not how Fairfield Warde High School boys basketball wanted to open the season, but it was another step in the healing for a team still reeling from the loss of its head coach. Walter Fitzgerald died in May, after a long battle with brain cancer and four seasons as Warde's head coach. New head coach Ryan Swaller tried to do what his predecessor always did in losses -- look on the bright side.
"It was difficult. I feel like I wanted to show up a little more for him," an emotional Swaller said. "Fitzy was such a fixture. I'm so used to seeing him on the sideline. But he would say this is just one game and there's always another one to prove yourself."
Stamford was sloppy on offense, but its defense was as advertised -- one of the best in the state. The Black Knights held Warde to just two points in the first quarter and never looked back. Warde missed its first eight shots and turned the ball over four times in the first period.
Kadeem Mundle did his best to help rally the Mustangs, finishing with a team-high 10 points. No other Warde player managed to break double-digits. Danny Turkvan, who scored a game-high 15 points, led the attack for Stamford.
Swaller took the loss in stride, thinking how his predecessor would have handled it. Fitzgerald lost his first 56 games with the Mustangs before finally pulling out a win.
"I knew he was somewhere watching us and cheering. Maybe swearing a little, too," Swaller joked.
Warde will try to put the loss behind them and focus on the next game at Norwalk on Friday at 7 p.m.
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