MIDDLETOWN >> Mercy held Fairfield Warde without a field goal for 18 straight minutes and cruised into the Class LL quarterfinals with a 37-22 victory Thursday night at Middletown.
The No. 3 Tigers (24-1) led just 21-19 at halftime and it appeared that the No. 14 Mustangs, who were coming off a nice win over Trumbull in the opening round, matched up well and had the perfect game plan against Mercy.
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But after Molly Kerrigan made a spin move to cut Mercy’s lead to 18-17 with 2:08 left in the first half, Warde didn’t score another field goal until Carley Strachan converted a layup in the game’s final second.
“We had some spells like that this year when we went three or four minutes where we couldn’t score,” said Fairfield Warde coach David Danko. “(Mercy) picked up their intensity and were jumping our screens a lot harder. You play in a state championship and you win your league, you’re going to respond.”
Still, Warde trailed just 25-20 midway through the third quarter.
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But Mercy stretched its lead when Sarah Gallo had a putback and Kendra Landy drained a corner jumper. Tigers junior forward Maura Fitzpatrick ended the third quarter with a pair of free throws, then opened the fourth quarter by draining a top of the key 3-pointer and Mercy led 34-20.
“We were reeling a little bit,” said Mercy coach Tim Kohs. “We’re used to getting out in transition and getting easy baskets. At 25-20 I’m thinking we need a stop and if we can get it to 9 or 10 we’re going to win. Gallo’s putback was a huge play. She played exceptionally well tonight. And Fitzpatrick’s three to start the fourth was huge.
Now the monkey’s off your back.”
Freshman Iliana Krasniqi had six points and senior Kailtin McKenna added five points for Fairfield Warde (16-7).
“When you’re making shots you look good,” said Danko. “The first half showed what we’re capable of. We felt pretty good. We had a good week of practice and we executed what we wanted to. Unfortunately, we didn’t produce an offensive product to stay with a quality team like Mercy.”
Fitzpatrick finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Gallo had 10 points and Landy added six points and five assists.
“Some games our shots just aren’t going to go in and we have to play through those,” said Landy. “We’ve got a long way to go, hopefully, so we have to practice hard to keep up.”
A steal and layup by freshman Daja Polk gave Warde a 12-8 lead late in the first quarter.
But Tigers senior Morgan Cahill beat the buzzer with a layup, off a nice feed from Landy, and that sparked a 10-1 run.
A corner junper from Fitzpatrick and a low post hoop from Alexis Brown capped the spurt, giving Mercy an 18-13 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.
“If you told me before the game we were going to score 37 points, I’d say we’d be in trouble,” Kohs added. “But the kids played great defensively. I thought we rebounded pretty well. So it was a great team win.”
The Tigers will host Career for the fourth time this season on Monday in the Class LL quarterfinals. Mercy has won 2 of 3 against the Panthers, including a win in the SCC championship game.
“They’re a very talented team,” said Kohs. “I said in the beginning of the year if we played them 10 times we’d be lucky to win five and they would also be lucky to win five. It’s a really tough matchup for us. They’re well coached and we’ll have our hands full. It’s going to be a great game.”
MERCY 37, FAIRFIELD WARDE 22
(at Middletown)
Fairfield Warde 12 7 1 2 – 22
Mercy 10 11 10 6 – 37
FAIRFIELD WARDE (22)
Leila Markovic 1 0-0 2, Kenzie Burns 0 1-2 1, Kaitlin McKenna 2 1-4 5, Tiara Fountain 0 0-2 0, Polke 1 0-1 2, Mollie Kerrigan 1 0-1 2, Carley Strachan 1 0-0 2, Krasniqi 3 0-0 6, Sarah Cotto 0 2-2 2. Totals: 9 4-12 22
MERCY (37)
Kendra Landy 3 0-3 6, Maura Fitzpatrick 3 4-6 11, Destine Perry 2 0-0 5, Morgan Cahill 1 0-0 2, Sarah Gallo 5 0-0 10, Taylor Fascione 0 1-2 1, Alexis Brown 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 5-11 37
3-point goals: Mercy 2 (Fitzpatrick 1, Perry 1); Records: Fairfield Warde 16-7; Mercy 24-1
did i read the boxscore correctly, 3 pts in 2nd half for warde??
That is correct. 2 of the 3 points came as time expired.
Mercy put the clamps down in the 2cd half. Took away frosh from Warde who was having her way in the first half. She is a future star.
Am I missing something? No one on Warde had more then 6 pts for the game! How did someone then “have their way” in the first half? Child Please!!!!
Did you watch the game? She dominated the paint in the 1st half.
Only person who dominated was Gallo
In the paint from Mercy with about 7 blocked shots! There PG seemed to be the only player who played well.
I must have missed those blocked shots. What game were you watching? 2cd half the opposite low post was overplaying her side to deny the entry pass. Gallo is a good player, not like this kid.
I am surprised you, as a front running Mercy fan, complimented the opposing point guard. She’s a good player. Unfortunately for her, the real issue for Warde was that they couldn’t keep Landy out of the paint.
I didn’t see anyone from Warde who stood out at all. Team plays very hard great defense and aggressive but no Offensive still . They scored 22 and not one player could create their own shot. If the kid you talk about is a freshman maybe she can develop. But remember the whole Mercy team is back next year. This is a rebuilding year for them after 4 starters and the 6th man graduated last year. That being said that team is very comparable to Amity.
They were in man – Gallo was playing Warde’s All Conference Center – did a Great Job. Mercy shut down the paint – Warde scored in transition.
Correct avid fan! Mercy plays 95% man with a little half court trap. How Mike could say she was doubled is beyond me. Hell Mercy played Atkinson 3 times and never doubled her so they are not going to double a freshman when no one on their team scored over 6 Pts. Kohs plays his game and makes the other team change to him.
Warde’s all-conference center is good. She didn’t have her best performance in hitting the side of the backboard 3 times while spinning to the basket. She’s not half the player the freshmen is. Her name is Krisniqui. All 6 in the first half.
Yes, Mercy was in man. Often, you saw Fitzpatrick in the opposite low post overplaying to deny the entry to the other side. Is your next comment going to be Fitzpatrick wouldn’t be playing in the low post?
Before the game I thought Warde could upset them. I left saying the freshmen from Warde is the only player that could start for Mercy. Mercy is clearly better.
Low scoring game – both teams played good Defense. I will be watching to see how the frosh develops . but I am with Intheknow – Gallo did a great job defending in the key.
having seen quite a few hs games this yr, including other conf than scc, when mercy is on their game i dont think there is any team in ct that defends better. They are very tough to score on , very sound fundamentally
100% in agreement with you hchoops.
Did I ever say double team? In the Know, do you know the difference between that and overplaying. If you don’t, watch F. Prep’s guards.
Morgan Cahill guarded the freshman playing man
Tomorrow I got Danbury by 8, S. Windsor by 6, Mercy by 4 and Laurelton by 6. I feel Mercy game will be close as it’s the 4th game between the teams.
Agree with you on 3 of 4, I think Amity beats S. Windsor. Mercy by 15.
Yeah I think amity will win, mercy will win but not by 15, it will be a tighter game I think. Danbury wins, and eo smith will give lh trouble, mckenna dale is the real deal, I could see eo winning
Unless the frosh you are referring to was the black wing player who was guarded by Fitzpatrick.
the frosh was the pg i think, looks very good for a freshman playing in a intense game like that. Gallo was tremendous. Fitzpatrick had fountain, I think shes their leading scorer, but she ate a donut against fitz
Freshmen at 4 and back up point. Starting point a sophomore. Maura had Fountain for most of game and shut her down. She ended up defending in the low post for some of the 2cd half.
Looking forward to seeing Dale play.
Don’t see Amity scoring enough points to beat SW.
You had it right.
Danbury wins big, SW wins big, Mercy wins big…Lauralton squeaks by EO
Class M: Tolland wins a close one over HC, E. Catholic wins a close game with New London, Cromwell and Morgan both win handily.