There’s something special going on with the Barrington Middle School girls’ basketball team.

Under the tutelage of head coach Mike Topazio, the Lady Eagles are carving quite a reputation for themselves.

“These girls have been phenomenal,” said Coach Topazio, who is currently in his fourth season at the helm.

During his time on the bench, the one-time Barrington High boys’ coach has led the Lady Eagles to two state championship finals and one other playoff appearance. This year, they were off to a 3-0 start through games played Dec. 8, and looking for more.

“We lost a lot of starters from last year,” said the coach, “with only one starter returning.

“This year, we’ve been starting five veteran eighth-graders.” They include top scorers Cary Heterick and Grace Faulkner (both at around 8 points per game), and Lindsey Dawson, Elizabeth Berkery, and Elizabeth McConaghy. In addition, the team is bolstered by the play of Carrie Bassignani, Zoe Sweeting, Grace Ceseretti and Lea Rouleau.

“This team has improved,” said Coach Topazio. “They listen and understand. They have picked up the system quickly. We don’t have a lot of size, but we play good defense. We’re looking forward to a lot of good things down the road.”

Coach Topazio’s basketball pedigree speaks for itself. He previously coached the Barrington High School boys basketball team to its first and only Class B state title in 1981, and later, went on to coach at rival Mt. Hope High School, first as an assistant under the legendary Domenic N. “Zip” Raiola for four years, and then, as head coach of the Mt. Hope girls, where he took the Lady Huskies to the 2001 Division II state semifinals. He later returned as boss man of the Mt. Hope High boys, where he coached the team for seven years.

Following his retirement from teaching, Coach Topazio came to Barrington (on the suggestion of Barrington High athletic director George Finn) as head coach of the middle school girls’ team. It’s been a marriage made in heaven.

Since taking over the middle school squad, the coach asked good friends and fellow basketball junkies, Corey Aguiar and Steve Bernard, to help him with the program.

“Both have been very valuable as assistant coaches,” said Coach Topazio. “Like me, they love the game of basketball and everything it represents.”

“My love for the game is what brought me here,” said Coach Aguiar, a former player at Mt. Hope High School. “Learning from Coach Topazio has been invaluable to me. Teaching these kids has been so much fun. They play the game the right way. It’s been a blast coaching with Mike.”

During their first two years under the Topazio regime, the Lady Eagles came very close to winning a state title. They finished with 12-4 and 20-2 records, respectively, losing to Feinstein by four points in the 2013 championship game, and to Curtis Corner by six points in the 2014 finale. Last year, the girls completed a 12-4 campaign, losing in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

This year, the team hopes to reach the promised land.

“Coach Topazio has taught us so much,” said Grace Faulkner. “He’s such a great coach. He knows what he’s talking about.”

“He teaches us how to play the game the right way,” added Elizabeth Berkery, “and, he’s very fair.”

As for their future, the five starters were pretty much in agreement that they would be moving on to Barrington High School next year, which would be great news for all Eagle fans.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Coach Topazio. “We have to continue to work hard and keep improving. But, I’ll say this, it’s been so much fun being around and coaching these kids. It’s been a real pleasure.”