NHS Girls Fall In New Gym Opener

By Andy Hutchison

Since Weston High School’s girls’ basketball team never trailed in the December 20 clash with Newtown High, it wouldn’t be fair to say the Trojans stole this game from the Nighthawks.

But Weston did pile up numerous steals, led by 13 thefts by Christina Welsh, en route to a 59-44 win in the first basketball game at the new NHS gymnasium.

The final score was not indicative of just how close this game was, however. Newtown got to within three on Riley Wurtz’s pull-up jumper with 2:52 to play before the Trojans sealed the win with a perfect free throw-shooting performance by Welsh down the stretch. Weston kept getting the ball to its sharpshooter and Newtown, desperate to stop the clock, repeatedly fouled Welsh, who calmly sank ten of ten foul shots in the final quarter to put the game away.

Weston remained unbeaten at 3-0 and Newtown dropped its first game after jumping out to a nice 2-0 start with wins over New Fairfield and New Milford.

Newtown was led by Wurtz’s 16 points, and nine each from Jess Lynch and Bridget Power. Erin Kenning had four and Taylor Benson chipped in two off the bench.

Every time it appeared Weston might pull away, the Hawks clawed back and stuck around. The Trojans built a 15-6 lead after one quarter and established a 19-9 advantage early in the second.

Kenning spotted Wurtz down low for a basket, and Power’s baseline move and bucket got the Hawks to within 19-13. After the Trojans pulled ahead 23-14, NHS got to within five. Lynch hit a baseline shot and, after Benson drew a charge, Wurtz scored to trim deeper into the deficit. Weston, however, went ahead 28-18 at the half.

The Trojans led by as many as 13 in the third and held a 41-32 advantage going into the fourth. Benson’s shot on the fast break got Newtown within 45-40, prompting a Weston timeout with 4:16 to play.

Lynch drew a pair of late-game offensive fouls against Weston, and the Hawks stayed within striking distance until Welsh kept getting sent to the charity stripe.

Newtown, following Thursday’s game with Joel Barlow of Redding (after The Bee went to press), will visit Brookfield on December 27.