A 5-0 start to the season, especially with several challenging nonconference foes as part of that group of games, is about all the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team could have hoped for.

Or is it?

While Coach Jeremy O’Connell and the Nighthawks went into the holiday break with a sense of satisfaction from the stellar win-loss start, there were also some kinks for the squad to work out during a lengthy hiatus from game action.

Following a 47-37 win over visiting Danbury on December 21, there was some focus on the final four or so minutes of the game, during which the Nighthawks uncharacteristically committed a serious of turnovers. The Hatters cut into what was once a 22-point deficit with, O’Connell believed, a little too much help from his squad.

“We didn’t take care of the ball,” Newtown’s coach said. “This is a great time, early in the season, to learn what we need to do. We want to get better every day so we’re playing our best basketball in January and February,” the Nighthawk coach added.

Five wins in as many tries coupled with room for improvement is a pretty good recipe for potential success. The Nighthawks went into a nine-day stretch between games with some extra time, partially broken up with holiday days off, to work on things. Newtown returns to game action Saturday, December 30, with a visit to East Lyme at noon in the first of four consecutive road tilts.

After falling behind 4-0 to Danbury, the Hawks quickly took the lead for good when Mo Murphy connected on a 3-pointer. Newtown scored 15 unanswered points with Izzy Caron and Murphy, again, connecting from downtown. The Hatters ended the opening quarter on a 6-0 run and it was 15-10 Hawks heading to the second.

Newtown surrendered only four points in the second stanza and built a 28-14 halftime lead. Strong passing and rebounding, including an offensive rebound and assist by Jenna Lagan setting up Ava Rochester, sparked the Hawk pull-away.

The Hawks began the second half on an 8-0 run to go up 36-14. NHS even capitalized on its own free throw miss for a 3-point trip down the floor when Lagan knocked the ball to Rochester for two points.

Lagan’s pullup jumper and Caron’s left-corner 3-pointer helped extend the lead before the Hatters finally got their first point of the half, on a free throw, midway through the third.

Newtown led 38-24 going to the fourth and went up by 16 before the Hatters scored five points 1:09 into the final stanza to make a game of it. The Hawk defense withstood a pair of Danbury possessions and chances to get things down to single digits. A Bridget McCleary shot block and Lagan tie-up helped prevent Danbury from really threatening.

Caron finished with a trio of 3-pointers and 19 points, Rochester scored ten, Lagan nine and Murphy six. McCleary and Caron both had five rebounds, McCleary registered two blocks, and Sam Diaspro, Lagan, Murphy, and Rochester all came away with steals.

Newtown’s next home game is scheduled for Thursday, January 11, when Weston visits at 7 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.