Nighthawk Girls Back In The Shadows, Ready To Emerge

By Andy Hutchison

A big part of Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team’s success last year can be attributed to the fact the Nighthawks were not looked at as the team to beat, their coach, Jeremy O’Connell, believes. The defending conference champion Nighthawks are among the favorites this season, increasing the level of pressure that has fallen on his players.

“Last year was such a magical ride — it was new to everyone. We didn’t really know what to expect. We never really had any pressure because no one expected us to be where we were. And this year I think — for a little while — it was hard having the target on your back,” O’Connell said at his team’s practice on Monday.

Losses to the conference’s two top teams, Lauralton Hall of Milford and Pomperaug of Southbury, may turn into blessings in disguise for the Hawks as they approach the start of the playoffs. The defending champions have been somewhat overshadowed by the team they beat in last year’s finale, Lauralton, and Pomperaug. Newtown will enter into the South-West Conference Tournament — which gets started this weekend —– as the No. 3 seed, and O’Connell is happy with the position of his team.

“We’re kind of not even thought about right now, with Lauralton and Pomperaug having such great years, that we’re kind of in the shadows a little bit. But we’re ready,” the coach said.

A rematch with one or both of the only two SWC teams to beat Newtown this year would mean — for starters — the Nighthawks winning their quarterfinal round game this Saturday, February 18. If the Hawks win, they would be likely to face second-seeded Pomperaug in the semifinals, with the winner — pending a big upset — earning the right to face No. 1 Lauralton in the championship.

Newtown is scheduled to begin the playoffs Saturday, February 18 against No. 6 Joel Barlow of Redding at 5 pm – at Pomperaug. With a win, the Hawks will play in the semifinals on February 21 with a berth in the February 23 championship game – at Masuk in Monroe – on the line.

“It’s going to be difficult because they’re two very well-coached and very talented teams,” O’Connell said of the possible task of having to defeat both second-seeded Pomperaug and Lauralton. “But I feel that we have an advantage — one, that we’ve been there before and two, they’re probably not going to make any adjustments because they beat us. We know what we need to do in order to win the next time.”

The coach wouldn’t divulge any details, saying he’ll keep that ace up his sleeve for game time.

One thing fans can count on is the Hawks not changing their overall style of play — which includes high-pressure full-court defense and a fast-break driven offense, O’Connell said.

Newtown, coming off some of its best performances of the season — late in the campaign — goes into the playoffs with plenty of confidence. “If we play anywhere near the way we played the last two games, we have a good possibility of repeating as champions,” O’Connell said.

“We’re going to have to play our best,” senior captain Riley Wurtz added.

O’Connell added that the Nighthawks — in a 54-18 win over New Fairfield on February 7 and a 71-71 victory over Barlow two days later — really clicked and put together solid performances, doing the little things, including communicating well on defense. The coach said the Barlow game was his team’s best this campaign.

The three team captains led the way as Wurtz and Jess Lynch both had 18 points, and Bridget Power scored 15. Cassie Ekstrom drained 11, nine of which came on a trio of 3-pointers. Wurtz also pulled down nine rebounds, logged eight assists, had three blocks, and picked up two steals.

The Nighthawks capped off the regular campaign with a convincing win over New Milford on Tuesday, 62-24, to finish 17-3 overall. Power and Wurtz both had 15 points, Erin Kenning scored 14, and Lynch added 10. Now, the second season — the postseason — is set to get underway.

“I think it’s just what we’ve been preparing for all season so we’re all really anxious to get into it,” Power said.

“We just have to put all of our focus into everything we do every single day. As long as we come out with intensity and heart we have a chance to win it all,” Lynch added.