Hawk Returnees Have Sights Set On Finishing SWC Business

By Andy Hutchison

 One year after nearly upsetting Stratford in the conference finals, that close-but-no-cigar outcome leaves the returning Nighthawks with a hunger to get back to the pinnacle game and finish things off in 2010-11.

“For me, that’s the biggest goal for us, to get back and win it,” said Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team captain Josh Engler, referring to the South-West Conference Tournament championship.

Engler is one of three senior captains, along with Matt Datin and Sean Maher, who will try to lead the Hawks to the top. Newtown Coach John Quinn knows what to expect from his seniors and is confident in the younger players.

“If the juniors play the way I think they’re capable of and the sophomores mature quickly — which they’re starting to do already — we could be pretty good,” Quinn said.

In addition to the captains, the Nighthawk coaches will expect contributions from the likes of seniors Robert Mascher, Brian Reed, and RJ Roman, along with juniors Kyle Wilcox and Josh Barrett.

Whether or not the Nighthawks win the SWC crown, they want to at least be in contention to capture the title come the end of the regular season. “I’d be very disappointed if we don’t make the SWC playoffs and the state tournament,” Quinn said.

As for what teams the Nighthawks most have to worry about — well, there aren’t just two or three. But Quinn is confident that his team is right there in the mix, and won’t be happy with just qualifying for the conference playoffs.

“The league is more balanced than it’s been,” the coach said. “This year, it’s more of a level playing field. We have as good a chance as anybody so no, I don’t want to set my sights just on getting in. We have a chance to make some noise.”

Quinn, based on what he’s seen in the preseason, believes defending the opposition will be a strength this winter. “I’m very pleased with our defense — our perimeter defense. Every kid has been outstanding,” he said. Of course, offense won’t exactly be a weak spot. “We have kids who can score,” Quinn said.

“We’ve got a lot of size. It should be hard for teams to match up with us,” said Maher, who stands at 6-foot-2. Engler and Datin are both at about 6-2, while Mascher is 6-8, a sampling of the size the opposition will have to try to overcome this season.

One thing visiting teams used to have to deal with was the loud fans behind the basket at the far end of the old gymnasium. Quinn says he’ll miss that home court advantage perk, but is excited about starting a new era in a shiny new gym. All of the players lined up and made a close-in shot to christen their new home digs on the first day of practice at NHS.

Newtown will have to overcome some key losses from graduates from a year ago. Among the six seniors who leave shoes to fill are Dan Lynch and Andy Lapple. “They were our glue last year,” Quinn said. Another is Casey Tenney, whom the coach said provided the “intangibles” for the team. NHS, which went 17-3 a year ago, and earned the Class LL state tourney’s No. 5 seed, was upset by No. 28 Newington in the first round last winter.

The Hawks will begin this season against Notre Dame-Fairfield in the first round of the Tip Off Tournament at Kaynor Technical High School on December 16. The Nighthawks will play their first home game December 27 against nonconference foe Ridgefield, out of the FCIAC.

“I’m looking forward to it. We’ve been playing together since we were in fifth or sixth grade,” Datin said of the anticipation of his senior year.