By Steve Bigham

Andrew Fiscella scored 27 points and collected eight rebounds as the Newtown Middle School boys’ basketball team defeated Rochambeau, 59-47, at home Tuesday.

Devon Manfredonia also played well in the win, burying three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points. Ben Bagaglio added seven. Kyle Hadstedt and Ross Coates played well defensively to shut down Memorial’s top scorer, Greg Solaz.

“We shut their big guy down. He hurt us the first time we played them, so we put a couple of bodies on him,” noted first-year Newtown Coach John Girard.

Brian Smith led the team in steals.

The win raised the Lions’ record to 7-3.

“They broke our press twice, and that was it in the first half. We shut them down after that,” Girard said.

At Bethel Monday, Newtown won going away, 62-49, as Fiscella erupted for 37 points despite sitting down the entire fourth quarter. Dave Anderson, Dave Wesley, Coates and Manfredonia all chipped in with four. Also playing well was Mike Bonsignore.

Newtown beat Memorial, 78-56, in its best performance of the year February 3.

“Everybody played, everybody scored. All 16 scored,” Girard said. “We played strong inside and outside. They couldn’t break our press, either.”

In most games this season, the Lions have played their opponents close in the first half, only to pull away in the second. The reason for that, according to Girard, is his deep bench. His players always have fresh legs.

Against Memorial, Fiscella scored 19 points, Begaglio tossed in 11, Ryan Shimko tallied seven, John Oliver and Dave Anderson each had six. Jim Dietter and Bonsignore led the team in steals, while Coates led the team in rebounds.

Newtown was slated to host Jockey Hollow of Monroe Wednesday night, then visit Jockey Hollow next Tuesday. It faces Bethel at home next Wednesday. The Lions travel to Whisconier Middle School in Brookfield next Thursday.