Danbury — If nothing else, this long, long, loooong bus ride illustrated that opponents better get St. Bernard now. Because when the youngins' — two freshmen starters and four returning starters next year — aren't so young anymore, the Saints will be back to contending in the Eastern Connecticut Conference and beyond.

Their long day's journey took them to Immaculate, a CIAC Division I semifinalist last season that the Saints beat in Montville. No such luck Saturday, although the idea that it was a four-point game in the fourth quarter suggested St. Bernard isn't so far away.

Immaculate (4-1) pulled away and won 66-50.

"They're very well disciplined. Their coaches do a very good job," St. Bernard coach Mark Jones said of the Mustangs. "You fall asleep and they go back door for a layup. A really tough team."

The Saints, though, gave Immaculate a little indigestion, namely through three-point shooting. Walker Baillargeon, Cedrick Similien and Tyson Wheeler all took turns from deep, continuously keeping their team close enough to the lead.

"We're close," Jones said. "We try to tell the kids how close over and over. A lot of teams we're playing have been together three and four years. We've had these guys for a month."

And Jones hasn't exactly given his team a scheduling break. Already, there has been Immaculate, Class LL Stamford, Holy Cross and Fitch in the first eight games, and No. 6 Norwich Free Academy visits the Saints on Tuesday night.

"Our schedule has been tough but it's only going to help us," Jones said. "I'll play anybody. I don't care. The only way you get better is by playing tough teams."

Baillargeon led the Saints (4-4) with 12 points. Wheeler and Similien, both freshmen, had 11 apiece.

Sebastian Parenti, who hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third period that stretched the Mustangs' lead to nine, led Immaculate with 17 points. Sean Guiry and 14 and Joey Rios had 13.

Immaculate makes the trip to southeastern Connecticut next Saturday to play at Waterford.

"I think we played OK. I really do," Jones said. "A play here, a play there. But we're getting there. Coming here is a good test."

m.dimauro@theday.com