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Newtown 44, Mercy 42-Nighthawks Cap Run With First State Title

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Newtown 44, Mercy 42—

Nighthawks Cap Run With First State Title

By Andy Hutchison

UNCASVILLE — As an edge-of-your-seat finish unfolded, Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team found itself with one more hurdle to overcome: a one-point deficit to Mercy High of Middletown in the waning seconds of the Class LL state championship game. The Nighthawks, as they have throughout their upset-filled tourney run, found a way to get the job done with everything on the line.

Newtown — behind a Riley Wurtz-to-Jess Lynch heave and go-ahead layup — survived and was crowned champions with a 44-42 win at an energy-filled Mohegan Sun Arena. It marked the first state title in the program’s history.

The players danced around the court, NHS Coach Jeremy O’Connell hugged everyone in sight, and the fans — who came by the busloads and carloads — screamed in jubilation. Wurtz, who took so much on her shoulders all season long, capped by a game-high 18-point title-game performance, found herself on the shoulders of her teammates, being carried around the court — while holding up the championship trophy.

“This is a dream come true. Anyone that plays sports and has ever participated in anything — you dream about moments like this,” O’Connell said.

Officials at the arena estimated a crowd of roughly 3,000 fans witnessed this back-and-forth battle for all of the marbles. Newtown, ranked ninth in the LL bracket, had overcome unbeaten and top-seeded Danbury and three-time Class L state champ and first-year LL team Hillhouse of New Haven en route to the title game.

The Mercy Tigers, seeded tenth, hung close with Newtown throughout the first half in a matchup of similarly structured, small but quick and athletic teams. It was 23-19 NHS at the break. The Hawks began the third quarter on a 9-0 spurt to finally put some distance between the teams. The Nighthawks appeared to be in complete control and — with an 13-point third-quarter lead — poised to take the game away, especially after running away late with fourth-quarter domination in wins over Trumbull, Danbury, and Hillhouse after an easy win over Amity of Woodbridge in the opening round.

Mercy, however, had other plans and fought back to finally take the lead, on a Maura Fitzpatrick put-back off her own miss, making it 42-41 with just 30 seconds remaining. The team’s first advantage since the first half was short lived. Wurtz took the ensuing inbounds pass and, following a few dribbles, spotted a wide-open Lynch under the basket at the other end. Wurtz launched a long pass to her fellow senior captain who scored on a layup for a 43-42 Newtown lead with only 22 ticks left on the scoreboard clock.

Mercy had a chance to go back in front, but Wurtz rebounded a missed shot. The ball ended up in the hands of junior captain Bridget Power who was fouled with 5.9 seconds remaining. Power hit one of two free throws. Mercy’s last-second comeback hopes were dashed when Wurtz leaped to intercept a desperation pass near midcourt. NHS ran out the clock, and the celebration began.

“I told you last week that this was the most amazing feeling,” said Power, speaking of Newtown overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat Hillhouse in the semifinals. “This is the most amazing feeling. To pull that off is just incredible.”

Power added, “It was pretty nerve-wracking. We knew we had to just put it together and hold strong, and not let them get over the hump.”

Throughout the evening, the Tigers attempted shots that rimmed out, and the Nighthawks used their always strong defense to make things even more tough on the opposing offense.

Mercy had an early 8-4 lead but Power sank a 3-pointer to pull Newtown to within a point. Power, with 1:03 left in the opening quarter, gave NHS its first lead off a long pass from Lynch — making it 10-8. That was the score after one period.

After Mercy tied it, a Wurtz lean-in shot reclaimed the lead for the Hawks. Maddy Good found Lynch down low for an easy hoop and a 14-10 lead. Mercy scored the next five for a slim edge and the teams went back and forth with neither side gaining an advantage greater than four in the first half. Wurtz sank a 3-pointer and later scored on a one-on-two situation by driving hard to the basket.

Wurtz, Lynch, and Good all picked up their second fouls in the second quarter, but the Hawks avoided getting into foul trouble as the game unfolded.

A Lynch steal set up Wurtz for the first basket of the third quarter, making it 25-19 NHS, and set the tone for the start of the second half. Wurtz returned the favor with a setup for Lynch for a 27-19 lead, prompting Mercy to call timeout. The Tigers couldn’t stop the bleeding. Wurtz drained a 3-pointer for the first double-digit lead of the night, at 30-19. Erin Kenning capped the big Newtown run with a pair of free throws for a 32-19 advantage with 4:39 left in the third. The Tigers finally snapped their scoring drought ten seconds later and the teams traded hoops late in the third. It was 37-28 Nighthawks heading into the fourth.

The Tigers started the final period on a 7-0 run to pull to within 37-35. The Nighthawks finally scored with 3:48 left when Wurtz converted off a steal. Good, off a bounce pass from Wurtz, added a big basket for a 41-35 advantage with 3:15 left.

The Tigers went on another 7-0 run, but Newtown again had the answer.

Power finished with 12 points, Lynch scored eight, Good scored four, and Erin Kenning added two. Senior Carly Iwanicki came up with some key rebounds on defense and kept possessions alive on the offensive end by getting to loose balls. Sophomore Cassie Ekstrom also contributed with some solid all-around play.

“This was a whole team effort. Our team has been pushing through this whole year and we’ve worked together and pulled together as a family. I think that’s what won us this game tonight,” Lynch said.

Wurtz, who had set the Newtown High girls’ basketball program’s scoring record last week in the win over Hillhouse, finished with 1,311 points in her career.

O’Connell noted that while Wurtz has led the team throughout the year, when the Hawks have needed someone to step up it’s been a variety of team members who have come forward and delivered. “It’s absolutely amazing,” he said.

“I think what helped us win is we all played together for so many years and we hall had so much determination. We wanted it,” Good said.

O’Connell pointed out that the Nighthawks kept their poise to pull it out in a tense finish. “It shows the heart and determination of this club,” the coach said.

Wurtz said that the championship triumph is her best moment in sports. “It’s the only, and the best, way to go out,” she added.

The Nighthawks, who were 17-3 in the regular season before falling in the South-West Conference tourney’s quarterfinals, earned a No. 1 ranking in the state in the final New Haven Register girls’ basketball poll, as selected by members of the media.

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