No single game in a 20-contest season is going to define a team’s fate, but there certainly are important wins and losses along the way. For Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team a hard-fought 57-54 win over visiting Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport on January 21 might be the game the Nighthawks look back on as their turning point.

Newtown had previously lost three of four nail-biters decided by four points or less, so to come out on top in any closely-contested battle is satisfying. Add to that the caliber of opponent and it makes this win all the more significant. Kolbe came into the contest having lost just once in South-West Conference play (to Notre Dame-Fairfield which is unbeaten in the SWC) and having beaten four teams, including a Masuk of Monroe squad that edged Newtown by three points. The Nighthawks improved to 3-3 in SWC action and 4-7 overall, and are right in the thick of things for both the SWC and state playoffs entering into the middle of the campaign.

“It’s great for the kids. They’ve been so close all season. For them to beat a quality opponent in a close game at home is fantastic,” said Newtown Coach Matt Murphy, guarding against the potential for this to be the highlight moment of the slate. “This has to be the beginning.”

The Nighthawks never trailed and were well-prepared for a Cougar lineup that is traditionally one of the best in the SWC and pressures opponents into turnovers. Newtown handled the full-court press well by not only breaking it and moving the ball to the frontcourt but also by managing to play at its pace — “play quick but not in a hurry,” Murphy said. The coach warned his squad that keeping up a fast pace would result in getting caught up in a track meet with the Cougars and that likely would not go well.

Newtown limited its turnovers and played with high energy on both ends of the court.

“We knew that they would be pressing us from start to finish and that we had to take care of the ball,” Murphy said.

Some of the keys to the game were keeping the Cougars off the boards, boxing out, especially on the offensive end; being ready for that pressure and avoiding corners and sidelines on the press break; and watching for double teams. “If you’re not covered find space to do damage,” Murphy said.

The Nighthawks led 13-12 after one quarter and 31-16 at halftime. They pulled ahead 42-32 heading into the fourth and withstood a late Kolbe rally to earn the win. The teams traded hoops early in the fourth with Teddy Moxham scoring off an assist from Drew Bradley, Asher Williams getting an offensive rebound and scoring on a putback, and Williams coming up with a key shot block leading to an Aidan Walker breakaway basket. Walker previously dove to the court to force a tie-up as Newtown scratched and clawed for every loose ball.

The Hawks were ahead 48-36 just before the midpoint of the fourth. That is when Kolbe got back into the game with four unanswered 3-point play opportunities. The Cougars scored nine straight points, missing three of those four foul shots after baskets, but were right there at 48-45 with 2:41 left.

Bradley scored off a nice pass from Luke Stewart to push the lead back to five. Kolbe continued to have mixed results at the charity stripe, hitting one of two a couple possessions in a row to again trim the deficit to three at 50-47 with 2:11 to go.

Moxham grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled and hit one of two free throws with 1:58 left. Kolbe drained a 3-pointer to make it 51-50 Nighthawks with 1:32 to play. Bradley had a clutch basket, despite a foul, when he drove into the paint, making it 53-50. The free throw was no good but Stewart got to the rebound of a missed Kolbe 3-point attempt to tie, and hit two foul shots with 16 seconds left. The Cougars made it 55-52 and got the ball back by forcing a turnover but could not convert. Bradley sank a pair of clutch foul shots with nine seconds left, making the score 57-52. Kolbe scored with two seconds left and Newtown managed a game-sealing play as Marcus Gerace used his football quarterbacking skills to hit Bradley with a three-quarter court inbound pass.

“The kids now believe in the fact we can beat anyone,” Murphy said. “It’s a huge confidence boost that hopefully carries us into the second half of the season.”

Walker scored 16 points, Bradley 12, Stewart eight, and Asher Williams six. Emmet Regan, Gerace, and Quinn Kull all hit 3-pointers, and Moxham also contributed three points. Walker hit a pair of 3-pointers and Stewart nailed one from downtown.

Newtown was coming off an 88-48 loss at Bunnell of Stratford on January 16. Walker led the Hawks with 20 points, all in the first half, before seeing limited playing time as the Bulldogs pulled away in the third quarter.

The Hawks visit Immaculate of Danbury Thursday, January 23 at 7 pm.

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