Newtown Boys Split In SWC Tip-Off Tourney

By Andy Hutchison

FAIRFIELD — The Newtown High School boys’ basketball team competed in the South-West Conference Tip-Off Tournament at Notre Dame High School last week and, after falling to Bunnell in the first round, defeated Kaynor Tech in the tourney’s consolation game.

Newtown hung tough against Bunnell but couldn’t overcome the Bulldogs in a 48-39 defeat on December 18. Connor Collier led the Nighthawks with 12 points, Kurt Nacewicz added nine, and Josh Engler and George Zaruba had seven and six, respectively.

The Hawks trailed by a dozen at halftime but cut the deficit in half with a strong third quarter. Ian Cooper’s put-back got the Hawks to within 36-32 early in the fourth, but the team got no closer. In the final minutes, Newtown players dove all over the floor for loose balls and were within striking distance at 45-39 with 51 seconds to play before Bunnell sealed the win at the foul line.

Against the Kaynor Tech Panthers, sparked by two 3-point field goals each by Nacewicz and Daniel Quinn and a 12-point effort from Collier, NHS earned a 44-32 win. Nacewicz was 4-for-5 from the free throw line and led the way with 16 points. Quinn finished with 10 points and Engler added four points to help the Nighthawks earn their first win of the season and improve to 1-1 heading into this week’s action.

Newtown used a full-court press to force early turnovers and capitalized on open looks from the outside and clear baseline lines to establish an early lead. It was 18-9 Newtown after one quarter and the blue and gold never looked back. The Panthers pulled to within 29-25 and threatened to make it a one-possession game just before the half but Collier came up with a blocked shot and Newtown carried over that defensive momentum, holding the Panthers to just seven second-half points.

The Hawks were scheduled to host Norwich Free Academy on Tuesday (after The Bee sports section went to press). After playing in the Weston Holiday Tournament this weekend they will visit Pomperaug, Joel Barlow, and Bethel before returning to The Hawks Nest to entertain Weston on January 16.