Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team had mixed results in a pair of games against FCIAC foes, handing Darien its first loss in a 58-52 road game on December 28 before nearly dealing visiting Staples of Westport its first defeat in a tough 48-47 setback on January 3. The Wreckers came from behind and Wrecked Newtown's hopes of earning another victory despite the Nighthawks, just as they did to Darien, holding Staples to by far its season-low point total in four games to begin the campaign. NHS left the gym with an overall mark of 2-2 with a long way to go.

In the win over Darien, the Nighthawks got 21 points from Makai Coleman and 17 from Declan Regan and the defense thwarted a Blue Wave team that scored 74 or more points in three previous games. Darien then was held down by Masuk of Monroe in a 48-47 Masuk win on Tuesday, setting up a potentially interesting clash when Newtown faces South-West Conference rival Masuk later in January. Regan had eight rebounds and three steals and Eli Williams had seven rebounds, four steals, and three blocks against Darien.

The Staples contest had about as many ups and downs and scoring runs as you could ask for in 32 minutes of high school basketball action. Newtown did not allow a basket until 3:19 into the game but saw the Wreckers erase a 6-2 deficit and finish the first quarter on a 9-0 run for an 11-6 lead.

Newtown held the Wreckers without a point for 5:24 of the second period during which time the Nighthawks had a 10-0 answer to the Staples’ scoring run and seized a 16-11 lead. Newtown's Makai Coleman, who finished with a game-high 31 points, led the way. It was 22-15 Newtown at the half.

The Hawks built a double-digit lead at 27-17 — highlighted by Coleman's 3-pointer and a Regan knock-away that led to a Coleman fast-break bucket — before the Wreckers chipped away and got to within 35-31 through three quarters of play.

In the fourth, Staples evened things at 35 apiece before Coleman hit a right-corner shot from downtown for a 38-35 edge. After a Staples basket, Coleman weaved to the hoop for a 3-point play the old fashioned way, scoring despite a foul and adding a free throw for a 41-37 lead with 3:35 to go. Regan, who dropped in 14 points, converted a layup and the lead was 43-37 with 2:40 left. Regan took a baseline inbound pass from Saahil Ray — who handed out 11 assists — and scored for a 45-37 lead with 2:10 remaining.

Staples got within five on a 3-pointer and Newtown missed a pair of front-end one and one foul shot attempts around the one-minute mark. Another Staples 3-pointer brought the score to 45-43 with 49 seconds left. Coleman hit a clutch front end one and one and his second attempt for a 47-43 lead with 46 seconds showing on the scoreboard clock. Just ten seconds later, Cody Sale scored and was fouled, hit the free throw, and got Staples within a point. After a Newtown turnover, Sale gave the Wreckers the lead by hitting a baseline shot with just 25 seconds left and that proved to be the difference.

Both teams stayed out of foul trouble as the officials made very few calls, until they needed to foul in the final minute or so. When all was said and done, NHS was 3-for-5 from the foul line and Staples was 3-for-4 with all but two foul shots coming in the waning moments of the game. A missed Staples free throw with just three seconds remaining left Newtown with a desperation heave at the buzzer and Ben Barber's shot missed. A couple of late-game offensive fouls on charges proved costly to Newtown.

Coleman had three assists and a trio of steals; Ray grabbed five rebounds and had a couple of steals; Williams again was a rebounding machine with nine to go along with a pair of assists, two steals, and three blocks; Regan blocked a shot; Barber had two steals, an assist, and a block; and Connor Hintze also was strong defensively and registered a shot block.

Staples previously scored 66, 61, and 75 in a trio of victories to open the campaign.

“The kids knew they had to come out and set the tone defensively,” said Newtown Coach Tim Tallcouch, adding that his team did just that in back-to-back games against tough opponents. “It was a really good game.”

But a disappointing outcome for the Hawks. “It’s a learning experience. And to be an upper-echelon team you’ve got to be able to win a game like this,” Tallcouch said.

Newtown’s coach noted that his team was “this close” while holding his fingers less than an inch apart before adding that the Hawks have to correct several things to close that tiny gap that separates a win from a loss. Missed pressure foul shots, turnovers, and fouls added up to aid Staples’ late comeback.

“The best part about basketball, right now, is we’ve got a game Thursday to go out and make it better,” said Tallcouch, whose team was set to travel to SWC foe New Fairfield Thursday (read about this game in the January 13 print edition of The Bee).

NHS entertains Greenwich of the FCIAC Saturday, January 7 at 1:30 pm, and hosts SWC rival Brookfield Monday, January 9 at 7 o’clock.

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