‘Something Special Can Happen’ — Nighthawk Boys Reach SWC Title Game

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball got some redemption on March 2, defeating a Kolbe Cathedral team it had lost to in a one-point heartbreaker in the regular season. The Nighthawks were happy to accept that win-the-second-time-around scenario since coming out on top in the rematch meant a berth in the South-West Conference Tournament championship game.

The third-seeded Nighthawks defeated No. 2 Kolbe of Bridgeport 82-73 in the SWC tourney’s semifinals in Pomperaug to earn the right to have a chance at even more redemption — with even more on the line.

NHS was slated to face unbeaten and top-seeded Stratford, a team the Hawks blew a 15-point fourth quarter lead against, in the SWC title game Thursday, March 4, at Masuk High in Monroe (after The Bee went to press).

“It’s a great feeling,” Newtown Coach John Quinn said after the Kolbe game. “We outplayed them. … I was really proud of them.”

The Nighthawks went into the game with plenty of confidence.

“This is a pretty special group of kids and if they do well what they do well something special can happen,” Quinn said following his team’s SWC tourney quarterfinal round win over Pomperaug.

Newtown had no problems with Pomperaug in the tourney opener at Bunnell High in Stratford on February 27. The Nighthawks jumped out to as much as a 23-point lead en route to a 68-52 triumph. Andy Lapple and Casey Tenney each scored 15 points, Josh Engler scored 12, Dan Lynch and Peter Manos each had 7, and George Zaruba and Matt Datin each contributed 6.

Leading by eight late in the second quarter, Newtown pulled away. Manos sank a 3-pointer and Tenney beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer for a 35-22 cushion at the break. In the second half, Newtown continued to build on its lead by getting to rebounds and pushing the pace for transition points. The Nighthawks built a 52-33 lead after three and cruised into the semifinals.

“We wanted to come out strong, put them away, and send a message to the rest of the league that we’re here to play,” Zaruba said.

Quinn said his team has earned the right to be confident, adding “we match up well. We run our plays well.

“The way we’re guarding on the perimeter allows us to rebound, keep them to one shot — and we can push the ball on the fast break,” Quinn added. “That’s been our formula all year.”

Quinn attributes much of his team’s success to the work of his assistants. Brian Cragin brings expertise to the bench and Chris Larocque and Kyle Lyddy “bring their passion, and understanding, and youthful exuberance to the kids,” Quinn said.

Lynch and Lapple combined for 45 of Newtown’s 82 points in the win over Kolbe. Lapple also pulled down 10 rebounds — 5 at each end of the floor. Zaruba did his usual hard work to get to rebounds as well, Tenney continued his solid all-around play, which included diving on the floor for loose balls, and Engler dropped in a dozen points in addition to playing yet another solid defensive game. Newtown made its foul shots when they counted as the Hawks built a commanding lead. The Hawks missed some free throws in the waning moments, something Quinn attributed to fatigue, to finish the game a respectable 27-for-38. Foul shooting trouble haunted the Hawks in the one-point loss to Kolbe earlier this year — but not this time.

The Nighthawks certainly moved on after the 72-69 collapse to Stratford back on January 19, but the Hawks haven’t forgotten about that game.

“That’s definitely been in the backs of our minds — the front of my mind,” Lynch said. “Ever since that game we’ve been dying to get back to them to see what they bring, and what we bring.”

On March 4, the Nighthawks had that chance.

“We can win. We just have to play our game and we’ll be fine,” Lapple said before the game. “We’ve got to do all of the little things right.”

Regardless of the title game result, Newtown’s season will continue in the Class LL State Tournament. NHS, which carried a 19-3 overall record into the Stratford game, is the state tourney’s No. 5 seed and will host No. 28 Newington on March 9 at 7 pm.