The second matchup between South-West Conference foes in a little over a week was quite a bit more of a challenge, but Newtown High School's boys' basketball team battled past visiting Weston 64-57 in the SWC tournament quarterfinals on February 28.

With the win, the fourth-seeded Nighthawks earn a trip to Immaculate of Danbury to play the top-seeded Mustangs in the Monday, March 2, semis; tip is at 7 pm.

Newtown defeated Weston, which earned the fifth seed, 49-36 on the road in a regular-season game on February 20.

The rematch was much closer. Weston led 38-36 late in the third quarter when Josh Handel hit a 3-pointer. Newtown's Jack Kuligowski answered with a 3-pointer at the other end to put the Hawks back in front — and they never looked back.

The Trojans were within a point at 41-40 going to the fourth, but Newtown built on its lead quickly. Riley Ward canned a 3-pointer, Jack Petersen hit a front-end one and one foul shot for a five point lead, and Ward came away with a steal, was fouled in the act of shooting and made both shots for a 47-40 Nighthawk lead.

Weston made it a one-possession game and trailed 49-46 midway through the final stanza. Ward hit a couple free throws to push the lead to five. With score 54-47, Kuligowski hit a left corner 3-pointer to make it a seven-point advantage, and Petersen followed with a basket to make it 56-47 with 2:40 to go.

Newtown answered a Weston basket when Jack Mulligan scored down low after a nice one-motion catch and pass, while in the air no less, feed from Kuligowski. The Trojans got to within five with a minute and change left but Newtown sealed the deal at the free throw line.

Petersen made eight of ten foul shots and scored 20 points; Ward and Kuligowski both scored 13; and Mullgan and Tyson Mobley both dropped in nine.

Immaculate beat Newtown in a nail-biter, 54-53, on February 4.