Boys Bounce Back, Defeat Kaynor Tech

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team bounced back from a season-opening 64-52 loss to Notre Dame-Fairfield on December 16 to knock off Kaynor Technical High School 56-44 the next night.

Newtown’s young team, which lost six players to graduation a year ago, has only one player — senior captain Josh Engler — with substantial varsity playing experience under his belt. The Nighthawks, Coach John Quinn said, showed him plenty of promise by nearly digging out of a 20-point hole to close to within four points before Notre Dame put the game away at the free throw line.

“It probably took the kids two-and-a-half quarters to get accustomed to physical, varsity basketball,” Quinn said.

In the loss, Engler shot 8-of-16, scoring 22 points, and adding four rebounds. Junior Kyle Wilcox and senior captain Matt Datin added nine points apiece, with Wilcox bringing down five rebounds. Junior Josh Barrett added four assists.

The Nighthawks responded well to their opening day loss, by beating a scrappy Kaynor Tech team. Engler continued his high-scoring ways, dropping in 25 points and grabbing six rebounds. Senior captain Sean Maher dominated the glass, grabbing eight rebounds. His ability to drive past the Kaynor defenders was the difference in this game, Assistant Coach Kyle Lyddy said. Maher shot 8-of-13 on the night, scoring a career high 17 points in the win, while contributing five assists. Barrett led the team with seven assists. Newtown also got solid contributions from senior RJ Roman and sophomore newcomer Connor Quinn. The Nighthawks’ defense was suffocating as players combined for 13 steals in the win.

The Nighthawks will have plenty of time to continue to improve before a rematch with Notre Dame. The teams meet again, at Newtown High, on February 8. The Nighthawks carry a 1-1 record into their first home game, December 27, against Ridgefield in the first round of the annual Holiday Tournament.