FAIRFIELD — Eight days earlier, when Staples defeated this same Fairfield Warde team by 16 points, the Wreckers jumped out to a 15-1 lead in the first quarter. Staples coach Paco Fabian knew that wasn’t going to happen again on Thursday.
“I knew (Warde coach) Dave (Danko) would draw something up,” Fabian said.
Danko adjusted his starting lineup a bit and, sure enough, it was a one-point game after the first quarter. This time it took the visiting Wreckers 2½ quarters to build a comfortable lead and eventually advance to the final of the Todd Burger Memorial Holiday Tournament with a 49-42 victory.