Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team got off to a winning start this winter, building a commanding early lead on the way to a 47-18 victory over visiting Bassick of Bridgeport in the season opener, on December 13. The Nighthawks scored 18 in the opening quarter as Sam Diaspro dropped in two of her trio of 3-pointers on the way to a 21-point performance.

Ava Rochester scored eight points, Mo Murphy had six, Cassie Pickering four, and Kendall Khazadian three.

Diaspro had five rebounds, five steals, two assists, and a pair of blocks; Pickering had ten rebounds, two steals, and a block; Ava Lombardo grabbed five rebounds; and Khazadian and Rochester both had three rebounds.

The Hawks visited Danbury on December 17 and lost 40-35. Diaspro scored 17 and Ana Morris recorded six. Pickering grabbed nine rebounds.