By David Fierro
Two games into the season, the Greenwich High School girls varsity basketball team sports a record of 2-0, adding to the great deal of optimism it entered the 2023-2024 campaign with.
“We’re really excited and obviously, we’re off to a great start with our two wins,” said Greenwich coach Megan Wax, who is beginning her second season at the helm. “Like every team in the beginning of the season, you’re trying to fill the gaps left by people who graduated and trying to see what formation, what group of kids jells the best.”
The Cardinals certainly jelled well in their first two games of the season, displaying depth and chemistry at each position. Greenwich opened its season with a decisive 49-19 road win over Wright Tech on Dec. 12 and followed it up by pulling out a hard-fought 38-35 victory against a tough Joel Barlow team this past Saturday.
“It was a hard-fought battle, so obviously, it was great to come out with a win there,” Wax said of the Cardinals’ close win against non-conference opponent Joel Barlow.
Greenwich is coming off a 2022-2023 season in which it posted a regular season record of 10-10, qualified for the FCIAC Tournament and also earned a spot in the CIAC Class LL Tournament. In the FCIAC Tournament, the eighth-seeded Cardinals lost to eventual conference champion Fairfield Ludlowe in the quaterfinal-round. Seeded 18th, the Cardinals were defeated by 15th-seeded East Hartford in the first round of the 2023 Class LL Tournament.
Guard Megan Geiger, forward/center Julia Monteiro and forward/center Riana Xhekaj are Greenwich’s senior captains. The trio bring experience, skill and leadership to their respective positions.
“I’m super excited about the season,” said Geiger, one of the Cards’ returning athletes from last season’s squad. “Everyone is into playing and super excited about the season and I think that shows in the games when we can lock in as a team and have a lot of team chemistry.”
Geiger scored five points in Greenwich’s home-opening win against Joel Barlow, including one 3-pointer. Xhekaj also converted a 3-point shot, while finishing with five points and grabbing numerous rebounds in the winning effort.
“I think we have a lot of team chemistry this year, especially with girls coming from different schools,” Xhekaj said. “I’m excited to see how it goes, especially with states and FCIACs.”
Monteiro, who is in her second season as one of the Cards’ captains, is currently sidelined with an injury, but is hoping to be back in action in approximately two weeks.
“It’s been a great honor playing for Greenwich girls basketball,” Monteiro said. “I’m very proud to be on Greenwich girls varsity basketball and have the younger girls look up to us, because that’s how I was when I was younger.”
Wax, who recently coached Greenwich’s varsity field hockey team to a highly successful season this past fall, appreciates the characteristics and intangibles the senior captains bring to the team.
“They are fantastic leaders,” she said. “Each of them lead in their own different way, which as a group works really well. They’re vocal, they cheer each other on, they are smart and they want it and make the whole team feel their want, which is awesome.”
In Saturday’s non-conference matchup against visiting Joel Barlow, senior point guard Ayanna Davenport, displayed her dynamic play, scoring 11 points, while helping run the Cardinals’ offense. Sophomore guard Madi Utzinger scored a team-high 12 points, eight of which came during the second half. Utzinger made key plays down the stretch and swished a key 3-pointer for GHS.
“It’s hard taking over the one and she did a fantastic job of that,” Wax said of Davenport. “She kept attacking and was making the right dish out. She did a great job and came up huge at the end.”
“Madi she is a fighter, she wants every single ball and is not afraid of contact,” Wax continued. “She and Ayanna really complemented each other.”
Mia Tartaglia, a sophomore guard, scored 13 points, while Avery Vanderburg, a freshman forward, also finished with 13 points for Joel Barlow (2-1).
“We definitely have things we need to be working on and it’s still the beginning of the season,” Wax said. “Their ability to stay locked in was impressive and I’m really proud of them.”
Driving hard to the basket, Davenport made a layup from the right side, giving Greenwich the lead for good on Joel Barlow at 36-35, while being fouled with only 52.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Utzinger and Davenport made one foul shot apiece in the game’s final seconds, securing Greenwich’s 38-35 win.
“It was thrilling, the adrenaline was rushing on the court, everyone was playing as a team,” Geiger said. “We knew when to take the good shots, we knew when to dish, so it was a great win.”
Geiger scored the game’s first points, making a layup following the opening tip. A layup off a steal by Utzinger gave GHS a 4-2 lead and a 3-pointer from the right corner by Xhekaj put the host Cardinals on top of Barlow, 8-3 with 4:23 left in the first quarter.
Xhekaj then scored off a strong low post move, extending Greenwich’s advantage to 10-3. Barlow ended the opening quarter with a 6-0 run to close to within 10-9. The home team held Joel Barlow to just two second-quarter points, while taking a 17-11 halftime lead.
Davenport made a pair of baskets and Utzinger scored in transition off a steal by sophomore guard Juliette Pelham, making it 17-11.
“Our 2-3 works very well, we’ve been practicing it a lot,” Xhekaj said of the Cards’ 2-3 zone defense.
A lot is asked of Xhekaj defensively in the low post.
“With Julia being out it is going to be a big step coming to the five, so I am going to have to adapt to the new environment,” Xhekaj noted. “It might be tough, but it’s part of the journey. I really like how we communicate, especially during practice, we can sense the team chemistry.”
In the third quarter, 3-pointers by Davenport and Utzinger and a basket in the post by Utzinger, gave GHS a 27-20 edge. Joel Barlow closed to within 27-22 after three quarters of action on a basket by Vanderburg.
Junior guard Alyssa Gath made a basket early in the fourth quarter and Geiger nailed a 3-pointer from the right side, putting Greenwich ahead, 32-25. Barlow then went on a 9-2 spurt to seize a 35-34 edge with 1:48 left to play.
Vanderburg fueled the visitor’s run with seven points, sophomore center Ava Gillon made a basket and Vanderburg converted a pair of free throws, giving Barlow at 35-34 lead. The Cardinals closed the game strong, however, scoring the final four points.
The Cardinals exhibited their ability to handle the basketball under pressure, with a lot of players pushing it up the court.
“I think we’re going to be one of the teams that can push the pace, because we are so guard heavy this year,” Monteiro noted. “I’m excited to see how that will compare to the other FCIAC teams, because we are on the smaller side, but we do have a lot of speed.”
“The younger players are adjusting really well,” Monteiro continued. “I’m really excited about what they can do, because they can really push the pace.”
Gath scored two points, junior guard Kate Baxendale had one point and Pelham made a basket for two points for the victors.
“I think we have good defense and a lot of good shooting and our ball movement is pretty good, so those are some things to look forward to,” Geiger said of what she considers the squad’s strengths to be.
Geiger appreciates the opportunity to be one of the team’s captains.
“It is a great honor that my peers respect me enough to be a leader and help advocate for what we need and I’m looking forward to a great season,” she said.
Added Xhekaj: “I love everyone’s support and the fact that they can look up to me to advocate for our team. Especially with Megan and Julia by my side, it’s great.”
Greenwich’s roster includes senior Caroline McShea, who adds depth to the backcourt and sophomore Anna Lenschow. The Cardinals’ next game is Friday against Westhill at 7 p.m. – a matchup marking their FCIAC opener.
“Our goals are to stay together as a team and hopefully, make a good run at FCIACS,” Geiger said.
“We want to focus on game-by-game execution and locking in on the moment that you are in and how to get better as a player each game,” Wax noted.
