Crimson Eagles Defeated Lancers in Fairfield Festival at Alumni Hall 41 Years Ago Today

Phil Ness and the Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team stifled a Notre Dame comeback bid in the closing minutes and held on for a 72-65 victory in the opening round of the Fairfield Festival basketball tournament before a capacity crowd of 3,100 fans at Fairfield University's Alumni Hall, Thursday, December 27, 1973.

Trailing 52-44 entering the final eight minutes, the Lancers went to work. Dave Lehn, a six-foot-two senior forward, scored 17 of his 30 points in the final chapter on an assortment of long-range bombs as Notre Dame managed to grab a short-lived 59-58 lead at the 4:21 mark. Lehn's three-point play at that point put the Lancers ahead.

The lead see-sawed back and forth until Bob Neilson tallied a pair of free throws with 1:37 remaining to give the Crimson Eagles a 66-65 advantage they never relinquished. Ness blocked three shots during the final minute of play and made a pair of steals to ice the verdict. The six-foot-seven center finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocked shots, and 10 steals.

Ness was aided by Ron DelBianco, who chipped in with 18 points, and Bob Cleveland with 11 markers. Lehn received support from sophomore Tommy Burbank, who scored 12, and Kelly Lombard with 10. Warde managed quarter leads of 19-16, 42-27, and 52-44 before the frantic final minutes of play.

John Lademan's steal of an errant pass with seven seconds remaining lifted Fairfield Prep to a narrow 64-60 victory over a scrappy Ludlowe outfit in the nightcap.

Paul

DelBianco Eclipsed 1,000 Point Mark in Win Over Stamford 41 Years Ago Today

Senior Ron DelBianco scored seven points in the last three minutes to eclipse the 1,000 point career mark, and teammate Phil Ness converted two three-point plays during that same span to lead the Andrew Warde High School varsity basketball team to a 77-64 FCIAC victory over Stamford at the winners' court 41 years ago today, Friday evening, December 21, 1973.

DelBianco, who needed 14 points heading into the game to crack the prestigious plateau, suffered through some jittery moments in pursuit of the mark, but finished with 20 points, giving him 1,006 for his career. His two clutch free throws with 3:15 left in the game gave the winners a ten-point lead, 62-52, and also vaulted him into the Warde record book.

Stamford, which fell to 1-2, had narrowed a 20-point second half deficit to eight points on a free throw by Forrest Andrews at the 3:30 mark. DelBianco subsequently canned his foul shots, and then came back moments later to complete a three-point play, stretching the lead to 11 at 65-54. Ness, who finished with a team-high 23 points and 25 rebounds, sandwiched his six points around a Stamford bucket to put the Crimson Eagles safely in front, 71-58, with two minutes left.

Warde had to contest with Stamford's Ernie Cobb all night as the Black Knights' rubber-armed guard fired in 37 points. He converted 17 of 42 shots. Cobb's 10 points enabled the visitors to hold a 17-15 first quarter lead, but he cooled down in the second stanza when Warde outscored the guests, 16-1, in the last three-and-a-half-minutes for a 38-29 lead at the intermission.

Reserve guard Bob Sherman keyed Warde's second period surge by scoring ten points in the last four minutes of the quarter. The junior also helped solve Stamford's full-court zone press, which riddled the winners in the early stages of the contest. He finished with 16 points and also turned in a fine defensive effort, helping to harrass Cobb on his jump shots from long range.

Both teams were cold in the third period, but Warde managed to add three points to its nine point halftime advantage for a 53-41 lead entering the final stanza. Cobb tallied 10 of his team's 12 points in the period.

Brad Gold helped out Ness with 11 caroms. The winners outshot the Black Knights, 48 percent to 35 percent.

Warde captured the jayvee contest, 54-53, behind Tom Curry's 15 point performance.

Paul

Warde Skaters Earned 2-2 Tie Against SCHS on This Date in 1973

The Andrew Warde High School ice hockey team played to a 2-2 tie against Stamford Catholic High School in its third game of the season 41 years ago today, Saturday, December 15, 1973, in Stamford.

Joseph Hamilton and Andy Larsen scored for the Crimson Eagles, with assists from Craig Benak. The Warde ice hockey team became a member of the highly-competitive Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference in 1973-74, one year after coach Arnie Larsen established the program. The league included 14 teams and two divisions.

Warde outshot the hosts, 25-10, overall, but could not manage to tally the go-ahead goal due to outstanding netminding by the Crusaders.

Following the tie, the Eagles record stood at one win, one loss, and one tie in FCIAC competition. Read more about the Crimson Eagles' exciting 1973-74 season by clicking this link.

Paul

Crimson Eagles' Cagers Blasted Darien, 78-40, 41 Years Ago Today

Ron DelBianco and Dave Favale combined for 39 points as the Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team registered an easy 78-40 victory over visiting Darien, Friday evening, December 14, 1973.

Coach Ed Bengermino's Crimson Eagles were never threatened by the Blue Wave cagers as Warde took a 20-6 first quarter lead behind DelBianco's 10 points. Phil Ness, Warde's brilliant center, and Favale, each had five points.

Warde, which improved to 2-1 overall, led at the intermission by a 37-21 score. Darien, which fell to 0-2, won the jayvee tilt, 45-37.

Paul

Warde Cagers Clobbered Bunnell to Open Boys' Basketball Season 48 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team defeated Bunnell High School in Stratford, 79-58, to open the season 48 years ago today, Friday, December 9, 1966. It was one of four inter-league games between schools from the Fairfield County Athletic Conference and Metropolitan Bridgeport Athletic Conference.

Five Warde starters finished in double-digit scoring as the visiting Eagles jumped out to a 36-19 first half lead and then held on to defeat Bunnell at the Bulldogs' court.

Jim Howard's 23 points paced the Warde offense, while Dan Haines was next with 17. Tom DeLuca hit for 13, and Dick Fekete and Mike Corbett each tallied 10.

The taller Warde cagers had a rebounding edge which they used to build their first-half lead, while the cold-shooting Bunnell cagers could only manage a 25 percent field goal average.

Paul

Holiday Gifts Available at Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop

Looking for that perfect holiday gift for an Andrew Warde High School alumnus? Visit our Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop and see a wide variety of gifts for adults and children.

The gift shop has shirts, sweatshirts, hats, tote bags, mugs, pillows, journals, mousepads, calendars, and much more with the school name and logo. Orders can be shipped in time for the holidays.

Click the sweatshirt below to enter the Gift Shop.

Crimson Eagles Defeated Golden Eagles in Basketball Opener 52 Years Ago Today

Led by the hot shooting of co-captain Pete Jankovsky, Andrew Warde High School's varsity basketball team caught fire in the fourth quarter and overcame an eight-point deficit to post a 71-58 triumph over Trumbull in the season-opener for both teams at the Golden Eagles' court, Tuesday, December 4, 1962.

Jankovsky, who finished as the game's high scorer with seven field goals and five free throws, connected for 15 points on five field goals and five charity tosses during the closing surge by Coach Don Feeley's Crimson Eagles.

Strong rebounding and timely scoring by center Marty Melson and forward Wayne Gower also contributed heavily to the brilliant Warde comeback that completely turned the tide of battle. Trailing by a 46-38 margin at the close of the third quarter, the visiting Fairfield cagers outscored their hosts, 33-12, in the closing period, and broke the game wide open during the final two minutes of play.

Coach Dick Shea's Trumbull outfit played deliberate basketball and controlled the boards early through the efforts of six-foot-three Fred Liggins and Tom Damico. The hosts jumped into the early lead which they maintained until the Crimson Eagles eventually took command. Trumbull had a 15-13 edge after the first quarter and led 29-28 at the halftime intermission.

The Trumbull squad played without valuable Gil Sidoti, who averaged 13.6 points in 19 games the year before. Sidoti was sidelined until after the Christmas holiday with a thigh injury.

Gower and Melson contributed 18 points each to the Warde triumph, while co-captain Bob Ryan scored nine points and reserve Jim Siavrakas tallied seven points for the Crimson Eagles. Gower, who was Warde's first-half scoring leader, sank four long-range set shots in five attempts during the first two periods.

Damico and Liggins led Trumbull's attack with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Harvey Adams also scored in double figures for the losers with 12 points, and Terry Nelson hit for nine.

The Crimson Eagles, who scored 27 field goals to Trumbull's 24, sank 17 of 23 free throws, while the Golden Eagles only cashed in on 10 of 23 foul shots.

Paced by the 16-point effort of Bruce Bernhard, the Warde jayvees edged Trumbull's junior varsity squad, 43-42, in the preliminary tilt. Dave Logie was the high scorer for the losers with 14 points.

Paul

Warde Product to Lead Eighth Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-Along in Bridgeport

Andrew Warde High School 1976 classmate Tony Procaccini, Music Director of Saint Emery Parish in Fairfield, has announced that Operation Hope of Fairfield will once again collect items of non-perishable food for the homeless and hungry as "admission" to the 8th Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-Along.

A contribution of one food item per person is suggested.

"This is a great way to celebrate the season and for families, especially kids, to have a great time," said Procaccini, who is pictured below far right, along with (L-R) Carla Miklos, Executive Director, Operation Hope, Donna Schmidt, Volunteer Program Manager, Operation Hope, and Leonard Paoletta, President, B.A.C.I.O., Inc.

The sing-along is sponsored by B.A.C.I.O., Inc., a non-profit group promoting Italian culture and history created by Paoletta, former mayor of Bridgeport. B.A.C.I.O. has a Facebook page, which is gaining popularity, and all are encouraged to see it, to 'like' it, and to consider joining.

The Sing-Along is scheduled for Sunday, December 14, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The singing starts at Saint Margaret Shrine, 2539 Park Avenue, in Bridgeport. Santa Claus will appear for the kids, and the singing is followed by a free indoor reception.

In past years, guest conductors have participated in the sing-along. They've included Brian Ente of Jim Royle's Drum Studio, Bridgeport, and Frank Martignetti, Director of Choral Studies at the University of Bridgeport.

This year Mike Lantowski, Music Director of Saint Pius X Parish, Fairfield and Organist of Temple Israel, Westport, will lead the chorus, giving Procaccini a brief spell. Lantowski is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and considered one of the finest concert organists in Fairfield County.

In case of inclement weather, please follow the signs on the street to the indoor venue. A volunteer chorus and the Chris Doney Brass Quartet will be directed by Procaccini. He quips, "I love this event, and I hope we can make it into a strong and permanent fixture in the local calendar."