Opportunity abounds for players to step up and try to help Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team return to the postseason. Coming off a 14-8 campaign, the Nighthawks will have an entirely different-looking starting lineup this year. Graduation claimed all five starters, but the good news is that there should be some carryover in terms of the character of the team, Newtown Coach Tim Tallcouch believes.

“The group last year was a phenomenal group to work with. They exceeded all expectations — they were unselfish. With that said, I think the unselfishness did rub off on this crew,” the coach explains.

Similarly to this winter, the Nighthawks had an inexperienced lineup last year, with only two players having significant varsity experience under their belts. Despite that, the Nighthawks won two more games than it did the previous season. As was the case last year, Tallcouch expects some early-season growing pains and for his team to get better as the schedule unfolds.

“I think we’ll take our bumps and bruises early on,” said Tallcouch, whose lineup begins the season with a pair of nonconference games against FCIAC teams Fairfield Ludlowe (on the road on Monday, December 21, at 7 pm) and Stamford (at home on December 23, beginning at 7 pm) before embarking on its always-challenging South-West Conference slate.

“Early on, I think we’ll have our growing pains,” Tallcouch said. “We’re going to be a better team come mid-January.”

Last year, Newtown was in the midst of a seven-game winning streak in mid-January en route to the playoffs. The team lost in the first round of the SWC tourney, and in the second round of the Class LL state bracket, but just getting into the playoffs was an achievement in itself for the new-look squad.

Whether or not this year’s even lesser-experienced team can duplicate that season-extension accomplishment remains to be seen, but Tallcouch believes it’s in striking distance.

“With hard work and maturity I’d say the state playoffs and SWC are within reach,” said the coach, adding that he describes this not as a rebuilding campaign, but a “retooling season.”

The team’s strengths are its collective work ethic and focus. Tallcouch says the Nighthawks will have to elevate their guard play to the varsity level.

“They listen, they’re focused, they’re committed — so hopefully good things will happen,” Tallcouch said. “The key this year is how quickly our guards mature.”

Tallcouch likes the challenge of helping new-to-varsity players raise their game to the next level.

“It’s absolutely what you’re in this business for,” he said.

Newtown is led by senior captains Mason Melillo and Joe Duero. Other players whom Tallcouch will look to for contributions are seniors Joe Duero, Mason Melillo, Dam Duffy, and Dillon Palumbo; juniors Tom Cotton, Sam Grossano, and Nevin Zink; and sophomores Nick Weiland, Evan Eggleston, and Ryan Escoda.

Three-time SWC champion Bunnell of Stratford, along with tough Notre Dame-Fairfield, Immaculate of Danbury, New Milford, and Pomperaug of Southbury will be among the top teams in the conference.

“We’re an underdog and I kind of like being an underdog,” Tallcouch said.