Cardinals edged by host Fairfield Warde in final seconds of FCIAC Basketball Tournament quarterfinals

By David Fierro on February 27, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media:** Greenwich High School junior guard Sandro Scott scored a team-best 13 points in the Cardinals’ tough 51-50 loss to host Fairfield Warde in the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals on Feb. 22, 2025.

Following a successful regular season and an appearance in the FCIAC Tournament, Greenwich High School’s boys basketball team is now primed to test its skills in the all-important state tournament.

Recovering nicely from a 1-5 start to their season, the Cardinals strung together victories at an impressive pace, defeating a number of strong teams along the way to finish their regular season with a record of 12-8. That stellar run of success to conclude their regular season, earned the Cardinals a berth into the eight-team FCIAC Tournament, where as the No. 4 seed, they played fifth-seeded Fairfield Warde in the tournament’s quarterfinals at Fairfield Warde High School.

Victorious by one point against Warde on Feb. 17, Greenwich came oh so close to duplicating such a victory in the FCIAC quarterfinals. However, unfortunately, for the Cardinals, this time, it was the Mustangs that emerged a one-point winner. Fairfield Warde advanced to the semifinal-round of the FCIAC Tournament by pulling out a 51-50 win over Greenwich on Feb. 22. The Mustangs wound up losing to Ridgefield, the eventual FCIAC Tournament champion, in the tourney’s semifinal-round.

**Photo by Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media**: Greenwich High School senior Matt Maloney guard takes a jump shot from the baseline during the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals at Fairfield Warde High School. The Cardinals lost the game, 51-50.

In Greenwich’s tough, edge-of-your-seat one-point loss to Fairfield Warde, junior guard Sandro Scott and junior forward/center Mike Golden score 13 points apiece. Senior guard Matthew Maloney totaled 10 points, while senior guard/forward Blake Martin had eight points for Greenwich, which led Warde, 26-25, at halftime and 44-36 following three quarters of action.

“The kids played well, we had an eight-point lead at one point, we had some turnovers in the first half and some in the second half,” Greenwich coach Bill Brehm said following the FCIAC quarterfinal-round loss. “We had a chance to win it and that’s all you can ask for.”

Warde was led by senior Jack Cramer’s 14 points. Cramer, a center, gave the Mustangs a 51-50 lead when he converted a reverse layup with 29.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

**Photo courtesy of Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media:** Cardinals senior guard Blake Martin dribbles the ball toward the basket during the team’s FCIAC quarterfinal-round game versus host Fairfield Warde High School on Feb. 22, 2025.

Trailing by one point, GHS had a chance to make the winning basket and move into the FCIAC semifinals and nearly did. After calling a timeout with less than 10 seconds remaining, Greenwich set up an out of bounds play, which took place under their own basket.

Senior guard Guy Germain lobbed a pass perfectly to Scott, who effectively cut toward the basket and got his hands on the ball in the center of the lane near the basket. While in the air, he directed the ball to the basket, it hit the backboard and the rim and rimmed out. The Cardinals had two chances to tip the ball in for the win, but the ball bounced off the rim and the Mustangs held on for the victory.

“To be in the game at Warde’s floor after beating them last week by one point was impressive,” Brehm noted. “I was hoping we would be another one-point winner and unfortunately, they were a one-point winner.”

**Photo by Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media:** Greenwich junior center Michael Golden, goes up for a shot in the lane against Fairfield Warde in the FCIAC playoffs. On defense for the Mustangs is Jack Cramer, right and Joshua Stewart-Jones.

After Cramer scored off a spin move in the lane to bring the Mustangs to within 34-33 with 3:38 to go in the third quarter, the Cards outscored the host Mustangs, 10-3, to open an eight-point advantage.

Maloney made four foul shots, Martin converted a layup and Maloney and Golden each made baskets, making it 44-36 in favor of the Cardinals after three quarters.

Greenwich was held to six points in the fourth quarter, while Warde registered 15 points. Golden scored four points and Martin had two in the final quarter for Greenwich, while Fairfield Warde received a key 3-pointer from junior guard Joe Fitzpatrick and a layup off a steal from senior guard Aidan Shea.

**Photo courtesy of Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media:** Cardinals senior guard Guy Germain shoots a layup during an FCIAC Tournament quarterfinal-round game versus Fairfield Warde. Trailing on the play for Warde Jack Cramer, left and Joe Fitzpatrick. The Cardinals lost a tough game, 51-50.

Shea scored 13 points, while Fitzpatrick and senior guard Ryan Moore added eight points for the victors. Scott sparked Greenwich’s 17-point second quarter, scoring 13 points in the frame.

“I’m proud of our execution, it was exciting and a great game to watch,” Brehm said. “Golden had maybe his best game the whole year, he played really well. He’s been underrated all year and he’s risen to the occasion.”

Senior guard/forward Oliver Suppo, Germain and forward/center Alex Mrdelja totaled two points apiece for Greenwich, which is preparing to play in the CIAC Division II State Tournament.

**Photo by Ben Harper/Chaos Crew Media:** Sandro Scott of Greenwich drives toward the basket while being guarded by Aidan Shea of Fairfield Warde High School during FCIAC Tournament action at Warde High School. Warde won, 51-50.

Greenwich is seeded 17th and will travel to 16th-seeded Hall High School in the opening round of the state tournament on March 3. The postseason game is scheduled to begin at Hall at 6 p.m.

Warde (15-7) is seeded No. 13 in the CIAC Division II Tournament and hosts No. 20 Trumbull on March 3 in the first round.