NHS Boys’ Basketball Team Pushes Unbeaten Mustangs To Wire, Loses Heartbreaker

By Andy Hutchison

The host Immaculate Mustangs were unbeaten, but that didn’t stop the young, improving Newtown High School boys’ basketball team from making things a little tense for their Danbury-based rivals on Tuesday night.

In fact, the Mustangs found themselves tied with the Nighthawks with about two minutes remaining before pulling ahead and sealing a 56-47 win at the free throw line. Immaculate improved to 8-0 and NHS dropped its fifth straight to fall to 2-6 overall.

“They came out with such energy and played so hard,” Newtown Coach John Quinn said of his players, adding that the outcome was disappointing. “It was just one of those games.”

If nothing else, the last couple of games — including a hard-fought 62-57 defeat at Bunnell of Stratford on January 6 — may serve as a turning point of sorts this campaign.

“We played very, very well against Bunnell and we played even that much better against Immaculate,” Quinn said. “I do see this as a turning point.”

Immaculate had scored in the 70s three times, and Newtown held the Mustangs to a season-low in point total in a game, even despite several late intentional fouls allowing the hosts to pad their lead. “They’re a very good team — you see them and you know why they’re 8-0,” Quinn said of the opposition, adding that the well-coached team brings plenty of height to the floor.

Newtown’s defense has been strong throughout the season, even in this losing stretch. “I love our defense. We’ve just got to get some better shots,” Quinn said.

Kyle Wilcox had a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds against Immaculate, and Mike Daubert and Connor Quinn chipped in with seven and six points, respectively.

The Nighthawks will go for their first win since a 62-50 triumph over Pomperaug of Southbury on December 22 when they host Bethel on Friday, January 13, at 7 pm.

“It’s going to come,” Quinn said of that elusive win.

Next week figures to be a particularly tough one for the Hawks as they battle nonconference team Norwich Free Academy (at home, 6 pm on January 18) and always-tough Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport on January 20. The schedule doesn’t lighten up right away as Newtown visits Notre Dame-Fairfield, which beat NHS in December, on January 24. Newtown is back home to face Brookfield on January 27.