Warde Boys & Girls Sweep Hoop Contests at Ludlowe to Claim Bragging Rights in Fairfield, Much Like Warde's First Hoop Squad in 1956

What a night for the Fairfield Warde High School boys and girls basketball teams! Both teams traveled to Ludlowe High School Tuesday night and swept a basketball doubleheader on the Falcons' court to claim "bragging rights" in Fairfield. However, the night was even more meaningful for both teams for several reasons.

First, Tyler Bisack scored 14 points and Anthony Rodriguez added 13 as the Fairfield Warde boys' basketball team ended a 59-game losing streak with its 47-40 victory over arch-rival Fairfield Ludlowe. The Mustangs' last victory happened over three years ago, when they posted a 39-36 triumph over Staples High School on February 7, 2006.

Meanwhile, the Fairfield Warde girls remained perfect after 17 games by posting their second victory of the season over Ludlowe in relatively easy fashion, 77-43. The Lady Mustangs remain the only undefeated team in the FCIAC with a perfect 15-0 league record. Daphne Elliott scored 24 points and Sabrina Siciliano added 17 to pace the winners.

Did you know that Andrew Warde High School's first-ever boys' basketball game was a 55-52 victory over Roger Ludlowe High School at the Tigers' court at Mill Plain School? Veterans Dick Dakai, Jim Jankousky, and Chris Costello came through with successive field goals in a three-minute overtime to help the Crimson Eagles earn the thrilling come-from-behind victory. The game was played Friday evening, December 14, 1956.

It was a closely-contested battle from start to finish, although the charges of Warde coach Bob Seirup, the former Ludlowe basketball coach, raced out to a 13-6 lead in the opening period and maintained a narrow lead until the final quarter. The score was tied at 49-apiece at the end of regulation. Henry Sprouse sank a foul shot for Ludlowe to tie the game and force the extra session.

Frank Mizak gave the Tigers a 51-49 lead at the start of overtime before Dakai, the six-foot-three, 210-pound former Ludlowe letterman, evened the count by hitting a jump shot. Jankousky followed with a set shot from side court, and Costello's long set shot iced the victory for the Crimson Eagles.

Dakai finished with 20 points and pounded the boards for the winners. Jankousky added 14 points in Andrew Warde High School's first major sports triumph, just three months after the high school opened. The Warde football team dopped all eight games during its inaugural season.

The Warde jayvees edged the Ludlowe junior varsity, 45-42, in the preliminary tilt. Howard Ratner and Tom Tuzzio tallied 11 points each to lead the winners. The Crimson Eagles' varsity and JV teams swept their Ludlowe counterparts on the road that memorable night. Over 52 years later, the Warde boys and girls basketball teams swept another doubleheader at Ludlowe. The more things change ...

Paul

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