By Kim J. Harmon

MILFORD – The 2007-08 season is only two games old and already the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team has experienced two of the most unpleasant ways to lose a game.

First, it was a two-point loss to Joel Barlow last Wednesday (on a shot with just six seconds left to play) and, then, it was a 30-point loss to Lauralton Hall last Saturday that has the Lady Nighthawks at 0-2 overall.

The Tip-Off Tournament at Lauralton Hall, though, was not without its local highlights.

The ‘Hawks were down as much as 12 points in the third quarter and eight midway through the fourth quarter last Wednesday before rallying back to tie the Lady Falcons, 47-47, with only 90 seconds left to play.

The locals really turned on the jets after Barlow’s Jacqueline Shinall was felled with what turned out to be a torn knee ligament. Katie Power canned a key three-point bucket to close out the third period and sophomore Sara Kelley dropped in a couple of baskets with less than three minutes left to play to pull the ‘Hawks close.

Even after Morgan Knees (who had 13 points on the night) fouled out with 2:11 left to play, Kelley (with 13 points of her own) lifted Newtown into a tie with four straight free throws – the first pair coming with 2:04 left and the second coming with 1:30 left.

With 20 seconds left, the ‘Hawks had an opportunity to take the lead but Katie Condon’s driving shot came up just a little short. And then with six seconds left, Jenn Shinall drove from outside the arc, through the Newtown defense, and lofted up a runner that banked in off the window to put the Falcons ahead, 49-47.

The locals raced back down to the other end of the court, but Jen Brewer’s desperation three at the buzzer fell short.

“We had some jitters and we were climbing up hill all game,” said head coach Shawn O’Brien. “That’s tough to do against the defending Class L state champions. But it was a courageous battle and if we could play like we did tonight, we’d be okay.”

That didn’t quite pan out, though, a couple nights later when the Crusaders (easy winners of Bethel on opening night) pounded the Nighthawks, 61-31. The hosts took a six-point lead at the end of the first period and opened it up to 19 by the end of the half.

The Crusaders spread the lead even further in the third and coasted to the finish in the fourth quarter.

Molly Yardley was the game-high scorer with 15, leading three double digit scorers for Lauralton Hall. Sophomore Katie Bowen led the ‘Hawks with eight points (her first varsity points). Condon added six points while Knees tossed in five.

Ally Modzelewski canned her first varsity points, as well, on a three-point bucket.

Not that it would have made much difference, but the ‘Hawks were just 4-of-13 from the free throw line against Lauralton Hall … two nights after shooting a near perfect 18-of-21 from the free throw line against Joel Barlow.

The girls will be in Southbury on Friday to take on Pomperaug before returning home on Tuesday to host arch-rival Masuk in a 7:30 pm tilt. Next Thursday, the locals will host Bunnell in another 7:30 pm tip.

Joel Barlow 49, Newtown 47

NEWTOWN (47): Morgan Knees 4 5-5 13, Katie Condon 1 0-2 3, Katie Power 2 2-2 8, Jordyn Good 0 4-4 4, Jen Brewer 0 2-2 2, Nora Lynn Shimko 1 1-2 4, Sara Kelley 4 4-4 13, Katie Bowen 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12 18-21 47.

JOEL BARLOW (49): Jenn Shinall 5 0-3 12, Jacqueline Shinall 6 0-0 13, Kristin Hanczor 6 0-1 12, Rachel Greene 0 0-2 0, Brenna Regan 1 0-0 2, Allee Beatty 2 0-1 4, Mel McAniff 3 0-2 6. TOTALS: 23 0-9 49.

Three-pointers: Power (N) 2, Je. Shinall (B) 2, Condon (N), Kelley (N), Shimko (N), Jac. Shinall (B).

Lauralton Hall 61, Newtown 31

NEWTOWN (31): Morgan Knees 2 1-4 5, Katie Condon 2 1-4 6, Katie Power 0 0-0 0, Sarah Kelly 1 1-2 4, Jordyn Good 0 1-2 1, Jen Brewer 2 0-1 4, Nora Lynn Shimko 0 0-0 0, Ally Modzelewski 1 0-0 3, Katie Bowan 4 0-0 8. TOTALS: 12 4-13 31.

LAURALTON HALL (61): Jenna Salandra 1 2-2 4, Molly Yardley 7 0-0 15, Hailey Murray 1 0-2 3, Kaitlyn Liquori 2 0-0 4, Bridgette O’Donnell 2 0-0 4, Devan Leahy 5 0-0 10, Keylantra Langley 3 2-4 9, Katie Cunningham 0 0-0 0, Jen Mager 0 0-0 0, Kristina McCarthey 0 0-0 0, Laura Discenza 3 6-6 12. TOTALS: 24 10-14 61.

Three-pointers: Condon (N), Modzelewski (N), Kelley (N), Yardley (LH), Murray (LH), Langley (LH).

Lumbering Into Action

The rest of the Newtown High School sports teams are opening the 2007-08 campaign this week.

The boys’ basketball team hosted Kaynor Tech of Waterbury on Wednesday night in the first round of the Newtown Tip-Off Tournament and will face either Notre Dame or Bunnell on Friday night. Next Wednesday, the boys will host Pomperaug in a 7:30 pm tilt.

The boys’ swim team hosted New Milford on Wednesday and will be in New Fairfield on Friday afternoon before returning home next Tuesday to host Masuk.

The wrestlers will open their season this Saturday at the annual Guilford Tournament and next Wednesday will be in Redding to take on Joel Barlow.

The hockey team, meanwhile, will open on Saturday, at 6 pm, against New Fairfield at the Danbury Ice Arena. They will be off for seven days and will return to the ice on December 22 to take on Masuk at The Rinks at Shelton (puck drops at 9 pm).

To keep on top of the day-to-day schedule and any weather postponements, log on to www.nighthawksports.com and click on the “This Week’s Events” link for up-to-the-minute information.