What does a basketball coach do after losing the services of his school's all-time leading scorer and all-time leading rebounding phenom through graduation?That's what Andrew Warde High School basketball coach Ed Bengermino must have asked himself several times in January of 1975 after the departure of the top offensive performer in Crimson Eagles' history in Ron DelBianco and the school's record-setting rebounder, six-foot-seven-inch Phil Ness. They both graduated the year before.
But Bengermino regrouped his forces. His team was in the thick of the scramble for a playoff position in the FCIAC Eastern Division by January of 1975. The Eagles also were close to securing a spot in the state tournament, too.
Thirty-four years ago this month, the Warde basketball team had survived the loss of two "legends" to fashion a 5-3 FCIAC East record, tied with Ridgefield for second place and just a game behind Staples (6-2). Warde stood at 6-5 overall and only needed three more victories in seven remaining games to qualify for the CIAC Class LL state tournament for the third consecutive season.
The solid reputation of the basketball program was built when Bengermino, the former Yankton College, South Dakota, baseball and basketball product, took charge just five years earlier. Disregarding an 0-20 record in his initial campaign, Bengermino revived the boys' basketball program at Warde by posting a 45-28 record over the next four years for a respectable .630 winning percentage.
After his 1972 squad barely missed the state tournament by a single game with an overall 9-11 record, Bengermino guided his charges into the CIAC Class LL semi-finals in both 1973 and 1974. Warde defeated Fitch, 59-54, in February 1974 in an opening round game before bowing to Lee, 59-54. The year before, Warde nipped Danbury, 74-72, prior to falling to McMahon, 72-60, in the state playoffs.
"Our original objective at the start of this season was to qualify for the state tourney, but after the Holiday Festival at Prep, the kids decided to shoot for the league playoffs and then worry about any post-season play," Bengermino said at the time.
"Right now the Eastern Division lacks a really overpowering team, and the playoff positions are up for grabs," he added. Whichever team gets hot and can maintain that momentum until the finish will win it. It remains to be seen, however, which team that will be."
The Eagles were a senior-dominated team in 1974-75, with seven of their top players in their last season. "We had to adjust this season and come to the realization that in a tight spot now we can't just get the ball to Phil or Ron," Bengermino said at the time. "Everybody has got to blend in and play team ball in order to get everybody involved."Brad Gold (14.5 points per game), Bob Sherman (12.1), Jeff Douglas (11.3), and Dave Favale (10.0) paced the team in double-digit scoring. Chris Ford started to come into his own and utilized his jumping ability to handle most of the rebounding, despite his six-foot-two-inch frame.
"I think one of our strong points is that the kids are a real close-knit group that's very coachable. They are always trying to improve as individuals and members of the team," pointed out Bengermino.
Special emphasis during a Warde practice was placed on setting up a fourth quarter situation with two or three minutes left in the game. Bengermino believed that most games were usually decided in the final few minutes.
"This is done in order to discipline the kids so that we'll recognize what we'll have to do offensively or defensively when we are up by six or down by six with two or three minutes left," he continued. Four Crimson Eagles' games were already decided in the waning minutes with Warde winning two of them.
The Crimson Eagles pulled out victories in the last seconds against Kolbe and Trumbull on baskets by Douglas. However, the Eagles dropped close games against Prep (61-58) and Notre Dame (63-62) in the last seconds.
"I want our games and practices to be a learning experience for the players," said the mild-mannered coach. "I want them to be able to laugh at something in a practice and to be loose. They shouldn't be worried about being on the bench for making mistakes since they are obviously out there trying their best."
Bengermino addmitted that the loss of his two record-setters hurt, but he was up to the challenge 34 years ago. "Last season we probably could have won seven or eight games just with our reserves, but this year we're not that deep. I would like to see us run a little more at times. This would make us a much better team."
There's no doubt Coach Bengermino made all his teams better. Whether it was basketball, baseball, or volleyball, his many league and state championships are a testament to his teaching and coaching skills. He was arguably the best coach at Andrew Warde High School.
Paul
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Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.
Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".
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