Stamford Girls Defeat Fairfield Warde To Clinch FCIAC Playoff Spot

The Stamford girls basketball team became the first squad to win at Fairfield Warde this season and the Black Knights' reward is a trip to the FCIAC playoffs.

Senior Lauren Schapiro hurt the Mustangs early and sophmore Kelsey Cognetta took control late as Stamford prevailed 49-39 in its winner-take-all showdown to secure the No. 7 seed.

The Black Knights (11-9, 11-7) will play at No. 2 seed St. Joseph in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

"It's special our senior year," said Schapiro, who scored nine of her 13 points on three 3-pointers in the opening four minutes. "We want this bad."

"We wanted to make sure we went out with a bang," added Cognetta, who registered 13 of her game-high 20 points in the second half.

Warde opened with Kate Kerrigan guarding Cognetta in a box-and-one, but Schapiro's trio of 3-pointers -- all off loose balls - helped Stamford build a 11-2 lead and set an early tone.

"I don't think it was me," Schapiro added. "My team got me the ball and I shot and it went in. I was lucky."

Brielle Lanese scored 15 points and Tiara Fountain added nine for  the Mustangs (12-8, 10-8), who were denied their first FCIAC playoff apperance in three years.

Though Warde did get even midway through the second quarter, it was forced to fight an uphill battle throughout and never led. The Mustangs were not a good from-behind-team during the season.

"The defense let us stay in it," Stamford coach Todd Parness said. "The defense also led to better offense by building up our confidence. We have been emphasizing loose balls and rebounds. Those have to be ours.

"Today, I think we did a good job diving all over the place.  The girls are going to have bruises all over their legs tomorrow."

Warde mentor Dave Danko, who coaches Cognetta is AAU, likened the defeat to the end of a love story, although the Mustangs will play at least one more game in the state tournament.

"We fought hard to be in this position (to make the FCIAC playoffs)," Danko said. "Everything seem to be our way. We just ran into a tough team. The better team, I think, won tonight."

The Mustangs had two chances to secure an FCIAC berth, but lost both. Still, after losing at Darien 49-42 on Monday, they were poised to clinch at home on Wednesday on Senior Night.

"It ended like a sad love story because we worked so hard," Danko said. "They (his players) were supposed to be in those playoffs. Those seniors started since they were sophomores.  We were doing well, and it's like a tragedy that we couldn't finish the deal."

Stamford's halfcourt trap bothered the Mustangs early as they committed eight turnovers in the first quarter. Stamford also hurt Warde with second- and third-chance opportunities.

Still, the Black Knights seemed to lose an edge when Schapiro went to the bench early in the second quarter with her second half. The Mustangs battled back to tie the game at 21-21 on Tiarra Fountain's 3-pointer with 3:57 left in the  half. However, the Black Knights responded with an 8-0 run that extended into the second half.

According to Danko, the game plan was to try keep the ball out of Cognetta's hands, but she scored six of Stamford's eight points in the third quarter and the Black Knights' first five in the fourth.

"My coach and teammates reminded me to stay focused and be patient and smart with the ball," Cognetta said.

The Mustangs made another run, closing within 31-29, and had a chance to take the lead, but Kerrigan's open 3-pointer went in and out. Cognetta's layup then pushed the lead to 38-29 with 7:17 remaining, and the Black Knights were home free.

While Stamford prepares for the FCIAC playoffs, Warde has some time off before the state tournament.

"I think these girls will really respond," Danko said. "They have too much heart, too much desire. They're all good kids."