In a battle of winless but talented boys’ basketball teams coming off some challenging tests to begin the season host Newtown High School prevailed over Northwestern 57-53 on December 28.

The Nighthawks fell behind 17-8 after one quarter of play but switched its defensive strategy from man-to-man to zone and got some stops, created some better chances on the offensive end, and turned the game around before halftime. A 22-point second quarter put the Hawks ahead 30-28 at the half. The teams traded 3-pointers with Quinn Kull and Aidan Walker both connecting from downtown in the final two-plus minutes of the quarter.

“We were able to get some stops,” said Newtown Coach Matt Murphy, adding that a combination of pressure D and half-court zone contributed to the turnaround.

Newtown trailed early in the third but went ahead 35-33 when Quinn Valez finished a fast break for his second of consecutive buckets. After Northwestern tied the score Drew Bradley’s fall-away shot made it 37-35 Hawks, sparking a 10-0 run capped by a Kull 3-point play the old fashioned way when he connected on a shot and subsequent free throw. The Hawks led 47-41 going to the fourth.

Northwestern fought back and claimed a 51-50 lead with 4:51 left in regulation. Newtown had another run in its game. Bradley’s spin move and jumper put the hosts back on top, 52-51, with 3:21 to go. The defense buckled in late and kept Northwestern from going back in front. Bradley drew a charge and Asher Williams had a couple of late steals. Williams made one of two foul shots for a 53-51 edge with 1:17 left.

After Valez came up with a defensive rebound Walker set up Williams for a basket in close making it 55-51 with 27 seconds to play. Northwestern got it back down to a two-point game with a pair of foul shots with 20 seconds left. Walker was fouled and sank a pair of clutch freebies with 12 seconds to go.

Bradley finished with 17 points, Walker had 16, Valez and Luke Stewart both scored seven, Williams added five, and Kull tacked on three.

Williams had four rebounds and a trio of steals, Bradley came up with four rebounds and a steal, and Velez had five rebounds and a steal.

“The kids have been working very, very hard from the end of last season to the beginning of this season, continuing in practices,” said Murphy, adding that getting into the win column is good for the psyche of the group.

NHS fell to Torrington, Wilton, and Staples of Westport before the first win.

The Hawks had a hard-fought 62-61 loss at Darien on December 30. Walker and Bradley both scored 18, Williams had 14, Valez eight, and Stewart three. The Nighthawks now get set for South-West Conference play, beginning with a Friday, January 3 visit to New Milford at 7 pm.

“The SWC is strong. There are no nights off,” Murphy said. “I think our nonleague schedule has prepared us for that.”

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.