Warde Girls' Hoop Title Stirs Thoughts of '76 Crimson Eagles' FCIAC Championship Squad

The Fairfield Warde girls' basketball team, a pre-season favorite in the FCIAC this season, atoned for a surprising 0-3 start by defeating crosstown rival Fairfield Ludlowe last week, 42-34. The Lady Mustangs captured the championship game of the holiday tournament on the Falcons' court after dispatching of Bassick, 59-22, in the semi-final round opener.

The Mustangs have been a perennial power in the FCIAC, first as Fairfield High and then, more recently, as Warde. Veteran Head Coach Dave Danko routinely fields squads which advance to the league and state tournaments.

Naturally, after reading about Warde's triumph over Ludlowe in the title tilt, I remembered the Warde girls' basketball team from 32 years earlier. And what a team it was!

They were known as the "comeback kids." And they completed an impossible dream. The 1975-76 version of the Andrew Warde High School girls' basketball team will always be remembered for its shocking come-from-behind victory over Stamford to claim the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship. But, they'll probably be remembered more for their heart and spirit.

With a new head coach, Miss Mary Beth McGirr, the girls got off to a slow start early in the season, but they staged a remarkable comeback to end up winning the league title.

One of the reasons for the team's mid-season surge was the play of sophomore sensation Kathy Anderson. Anderson's phenomenal improvement from the beginning of the season paralleled the improved play of the team as a whole. By the end of the campaign, Anderson was habitually leading the team in points and rebounds every game. She earned All-FCIAC first-team honors, and she was named the MVP of the league tournament.

But, Anderson wasn't the only reason the team won the coveted FCIAC championship, which it did by defeating Stamford, 48-44, in dramatic come-from-behind fashion, and by trouncing powerhouse Westhill by a 62-49 margin. The many other players who contributed much to the team's achievements included seniors Diane Dionis, Debbie Mendell, who earned All-FCIAC second-team recognition, Gayle Johnson, and Marti Causey. The juniors included Kris Ness and Betsy Niesyn.

With their 16-5 regular-season record, the team also qualified for the state tournament. They easily defeated Bunnell of Stratford, 74-46, but bowed to R. C. Lee of New Haven, 63-39.The FCIAC championship was the highlight of the season. For that reason, the 1975-76 Andrew Warde High School girls' basketball team earned my vote for the most memorable athletic achievement during our senior year at Andrew Warde High School.

Paul

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Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."