By Kim J. Harmon

Sure, even with 2.1 seconds left on the clock the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team could have pulled out its CIAC Class LL second round game against Bulkeley last Wednesday – but the kinds of plays that make things like that happen have been in short supply lately.

Down 52-50 with just 2.1 seconds to play and Bulkeley in possession, the Lady Nighthawks somehow tied up an inbounds pass without any time elapsing and had one last chance to tie the game and send it into overtime.

But junior guard Kelley Haines – the most prolific scorer in the South-West Conference with 470 points – rolled her last-second shot over the hoop and just like that Newtown saw a sometimes spectacular, sometimes befuddling 2002-03 season come to an end.

The third-seeded Nighthawks buried Enrico Fermi in a first-round game last Monday and it seemed as if they were going to deal out the same kind of punishment against No. 14 Bulkeley last Wednesday.

Ashley Larocque (a couple of baskets), Haines (her 50th three-pointer), Julie Iwanicki and Jacky Curran all had a chance to contribute early on to stake the Nighthawks to a 13-5 lead. After Meghan Kelley canned a baseline jumper to keep the ‘Hawks ahead by eight, the Lady Bulldogs started to rally.

A basket to close the first period and a basket to open the second period put Bulkeley ahead for the first time. Stephanie Logan popped in a jumper to grab the lead back for the ‘Hawks, but the ‘Dogs – who were led by Kamara Scott on the inside (19 points) and Katie DaCosta on the outside (14 points) – went on a 13-7 lead to close out the first half with a 29-24 lead.

Despite a couple of nice baskets by Larocque (12 points) in the early stages of the third period, the Lady Bulldogs kept up the stifling defensive pressure and extended their lead to 10 points, 38-28.

It seemed as if the game was going to slip out of their reach, but the ‘Hawks suddenly started to click. An 11-0 run (fueled by a three-pointer by Haines, a basket by Logan, and 4-for-4 shooting from the free throw line) staked the ‘Hawks to a stunning 39-38 lead.

The electricity drained right out the rally, however, and with four seconds left in the period the Lady Bulldogs banked in a shot to take the lead – the final lead change of the game, as it turned out.

The ‘Dogs went up as much as six points, but Larocque continued to shoot well and kept the ‘Hawks close with a couple of baskets. But with 11 seconds left, the ‘Dogs dropped in a couple of foul shots to take a 52-48 lead and push the Nighthawks right up against the wall.

There still was life left in the home team, though. With 2.1 seconds left, Haines popped in a couple of free throws to cut the Bulkeley lead to two and then helped tie up the inbounds pass to force the turnover.

But the ‘Hawks were out of luck and out of time and the end came a little bit quicker than they might have expected.

Still, for a young team (imagine – no seniors) with four first-time starters, a 21-4 record and an SWC Colonial Division title are a couple of fine accomplishments for three months of winter work.

Bulkeley                  52

Newtown                                50

 

BULKELEY (52): McGhee 1 0-0 2, Sampson 3 1-2 7, Scot 7 4-4 19, Billington 4 0-1 9, Baskerville 1 0-0 2, DaCosta 5 3-5 14, Soto 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 7-12 52.

NEWTOWN (50): Iwanicki 1 1-2 3, Curran 2 0-0 4, Logan 2 2-2 6, Kelley 2 2-2 6, Filler 0 0-0 0, Haine 5 6-8 19, Larocque 6 0-0 12. Totals: 15 11-14 50.

Three-pointers: Haines (N) 2, DaCosta (B), Billington (B), Scott (B).