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![Warde's Jack McKenna looks to score inside defended by Ludlowe's Rowan Keeser in the first half of their boys basketball matchup for Coaches vs. Cancer at Warde High School in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday, February 03, 2020. Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media / Connecticut Post]()
Warde's Jack McKenna looks to score inside defended by Ludlowe's Rowan Keeser in the first half of their boys basketball matchup for Coaches vs. Cancer at Warde High School in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday, February 03, 2020.
lessPhoto: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut MediaWarde's Jack McKenna looks to score inside defended by Ludlowe's Rowan Keeser in the first half of their boys basketball matchup for Coaches vs. Cancer at Warde High School in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday,
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Warde's Jack McKenna looks to score inside defended by Ludlowe's Rowan Keeser in the first half of their boys basketball matchup for Coaches vs. Cancer at Warde High School in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday, February 03, 2020.
lessWarde's Jack McKenna looks to score inside defended by Ludlowe's Rowan Keeser in the first half of their boys basketball matchup for Coaches vs. Cancer at Warde High School in Fairfield, Conn. on Monday,
... moreFAIRFIELD — It was supposed to be a crosstown matchup between two of the best teams in the FCIAC this season.
It turned into a party on Warde’s court complete with dunks, a boisterous cheering section and all the starters leaving to standing ovations with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Warde (11-2) took what was a 10-point lead after three quarters, turning it into a 60-36 drubbing of Ludlowe (10-3) behind a strong defensive effort.
The party hits its peak when Justyn Davis flipped an alley-oop on the fast break to his brother Jordyn Davis who threw it down, sending the crowd into a frenzy of chanting the hook to “Seven Nation Army.”
That play put Warde up 50-31 just minutes into the fourth quarter.
“They do (feel sweeter) coming from my brother and I really love him, so much. He plays great with me and I will continue doing that with him,” Jordyn Davis said. “We were able to rebound, get out in transition and make our shots. It was very exciting, tonight. I love it. I love to hear that noise.”
Jordyn finished with 10 points, Justin Davis had 13, Jack McKenna had 11 and Brendan McMahon finished with 12 as Warde spread the scoring around.
Warde’s defense was in lock-down mode in the second half, especially in the fourth when it allowed Ludlowe just five points in garbage time, outscoring the Falcons 19-5 over the final eight minutes.
“All credit to Warde, they played great. They were ready to go and they were hungry after we beat them back in December,” Ludlowe coach John Dailey said. “They played great defense. They got us off of our spots, they took us out of any flow offensively and they took our transition away. Warde just played great. Hats off to them.”
Ludlowe was paced by 13 points by Patrick Kilbride.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jordyn Davis, Warde. Davis’ two dunks electrified the crowd, but it was his work defensively that stood out. He created havoc for Ludlowe with his long arms, quick hands and fast footwork.
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“I have a number of guys we can rotate in, but we seem to be a team with just a ton of size,” Warde coach Ryan Swaller said. “Not just height but they have length, they have physical strength and they are able to control their bodies well enough. They use their length to get in passing lanes and then go up and rebound and start fast breaks off those rebounds. We used that length to our advantage, tonight.”