By Kim J. Harmon

One has to go back a long way to find the last time the Newtown High School boys’ basketball team failed to reach the CIAC state tournament and one has to go back a long way to find the last time the girls’ basketball team was bounced from the South-West Conference tournament in the quarterfinals.

It’s a strange new world.

Stranger still is the fact that the 4x400 medley relay of the girls’ indoor track team re-set a school record at the CIAC State Open and yet – somehow – finished 15th in the event. Julie Landin, Whitney Allison, Colleen Thornberg and Sadie Ball set the new mark at a wicked 4:18.27 (13 seconds off the previous school record), but four girls from Weaver High School ran an even more wicked 4:03.95 to take first.

Yep, a strange new world.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Stratford 69, Newtown 50

NFA 50, Newtown 36

All the team needed was one win … but one win that had become increasingly difficult to come by.

It wasn’t too long ago (only back on February 4) that the Newtown High School boys’ basketball team was 7-7 and a virtual lock to qualify for the South-West Conference and CIAC Class LL state tournaments. All the Nighthawks needed was one win.

But a little over two weeks later that win still hadn’t materialized and the ‘Hawks – stuck inside a four-game losing streak – were running out of opportunities and were in danger of missing the CIAC state tournament for the first time in 12 years and only the third time in the last 22 years.

The elusive win would either have to come against Notre Dame on Tuesday night or on Wednesday night (Senior Night) against an Immaculate team that the ‘Hawks had already lost to this season.

“We talked about it before the game,” said senior Kyle Lyddy. “We didn’t want to put any more pressure to do it on Senior Night against Immaculate.”

Although it wasn’t easy, the ‘Hawks took care of business on Tuesday as Lyddy scored seven points, put together a tremendous floor game, and helped lead the ‘Hawks to a 59-54 win over the pesky Lancers of Notre Dame.

At last – a ticket to the state tournament.

The ‘Hawks had begun their four-game slide back on February 8 with a 54-48 loss to Masuk and that slide continued with a 52-50 loss to Bethel on February 11, a 70-50 loss to Stratford on February 16, and a 50-36 loss to Norwich Free Academy last Friday.

“We’ve played together for a long time and we know how to win,” said Lyddy, “but it just wasn’t happening. The last couple of games have been rough.”

Tuesday night was rough, too.

Lyddy scored the first two baskets for the ‘Hawks and after Brennan Coakley and Anthony Santella – back from an ankle injury – added buckets of their own, the locals had an 8-4 advantage. But the Lancers went on a 13-2 run to close out the first period and take a 17-10 lead.

The Lancers went up as much as nine points early in the second period as Mike Oleynick (22 points, four three-pointers) started long-range target practice. But then Kevin Quinn (1-of-2 from the line), Kevin Troy (a three-pointer that rattled around the rim forever), Santella (a bucket in the paint) and Troy again (off a steal) fueled a run that narrowed the gap to just one point, 23-22, at the break.

It was a momentum shifter, alright, as the ‘Hawks took a quick lead at the start of the third period on a three-pointer from Lyddy and a bucket in the paint from Josh Rouse. The locals would go up as much as five points in the quarter, but Oleynick was too hot from the perimeter and with his second and third three-pointers of the game kept the Lancers within one.

Quinn and Coakley tossed in baskets to put the ‘Hawks ahead, 40-36, but the locals nearly threw the whole thing away with some shaky decisions at the close of the third.

The ‘Hawks had the ball with a four-point lead and less than a minute to go and instead of wearing some time off the clock they attempted a shot that failed to fall. The Lancers quickly turned around and scored with a little over 10 seconds remaining and soon after added a three-pointer from near midcourt – at the buzzer – to take a shocking 41-40 lead.

Then early in the fourth, the visitors added another basket and two foul shots to take a 45-40 lead.

But the ‘Hawks continued to work hard and while scoring became confined almost entirely to the foul line, they made the plays on the floor – such as the huge charging call drawn by Joe DeVellis and the big rebound and jump ball tie-up by Lyddy off a missed foul shot.

With the game tied 49-49, Quinn tossed in a basket on a drive to the hoop to put the ‘Hawks ahead, 51-49. Oleynick answered with his fourth three-pointer of the game, but Rouse hit a free throw with 1:24 left to tie the score and then Marcus Tracy dropped in a pair of foul shots with 52.2 left to give the ‘Hawks the lead for good.

Lyddy and Rouse finished with 13 points apiece while Quinn and Tracy chipped in with eight points apiece.

Stratford 69, Newtown 50

NEWTOWN (50): Brennan Coakley 4 0-0 8, Kyle Lyddy 3 1-2 7, Kevin Quinn 3 1-2 7, Josh Rouse 0 1-2 1, Marcus Tracy 5 4-4 14, Dave McLaughlin 1 0-0 2, Joey Devellis 1 0-0 2, Ryan McGrath 0 0-0 0, Kevin Troy 3 2-3 9. TOTALS: 20 9-13 50.

STRATFORD (69): Hatchett 1 0-0 2, Barr 1 0-0 3, Reyes 12 2-6 27, Small 9 0-0 21, Jacobs 0 2-2 2, Gill 2 0-0 6, Martin 1 0-0 3, Agyeman 0 1-4 1, Singletary 2 0-4 4. TOTALS: 30 5-16 69.

Three-pointers: Kevin Troy (N); Reyes (S), Small (S) 3, Barr (S), Gill (S) 2, Martin (S).

NFA 50, Newtown 36

NFA (50): Stephen Allen 1 0-0 2, Tim Driscoll 1 2-3 4, Mike Bokoff 0 0-1 0, Mike Elliott 0 0-0 0, Al Jaziri 5 3-4 15, Mike Russell 8 0-0 18, Kevin Donovan 0 1-2 1, Gavin McAllister 2 0-0 5, RJ Evans 2 1-2 5. TOTALS: 19 7-12 50.

NEWTOWN (36): Brennan Coakley 3 0-1 6, Adam Drummond 0 0-0 0, Kyle Lyddy 1 0-1 2, Kevin Quinn 0 1-2 1, Josh Rouse 2 0-4 4, Marcus Tracy 7 2-5 18, Dave McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Joey Devellis 1 1-2 3; Ryan McGrath 0 0-0 0, Kevin Troy 0 2-2 2. TOTALS: 14 6-17 36.

Three-pointers: Jaziri (NFA) 2, Russell (NFA) 2, McCallister (NFA), Marcus Tracy (N) 2.

Newtown 59, Notre Dame 54

NOTRE DAME (54): Gerry Christopher 3 1-2 7, Thomas Sparks 3 0-0 6, Shane Lake 0 0-0 0, Howard Kinlock 5 4-4 15, Kevin Cosgrove 1 0-0 3, Marcel Molina 0 1-2 1, Mike Oleynick 8 2-2 22. TOTALS: 20 8-10 54.

NEWTOWN (59): Brennan Coakley 4 0-2 8, Kyle Lyddy 4 4-4 13, Kevin Quinn 3 1-2 8, Josh Rouse 3 7-12 13, Anthony Santella 2 0-0 4, Marcus Tracy 2 4-4 8, Dave McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Joey Devellis 0 0-0 0, Kevin Troy 2 0-1 5. TOTALS: 20 16-25 59.

Three-pointers: Oleynick (ND) 4, Cosgrove (ND), Kinlock (ND), Kyle Lyddy (N), Kevin Quinn (N), Kevin Troy (N).

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Newtown 67, Lauralton 46

Pomperaug 50, Newtown 40

It was one of the finest displays of shooting most of the girls on the Shehan Center floor are ever likely to see.

But it came against Newtown.

In the South-West Conference quarterfinals.

And through the direct result of that shooting display – put on by Lexi Allen of Pomperaug, who finished with 32 points – the Lady Nighthawks were unceremoniously bounced from the tournament on the heels of a 50-40 loss.

“That was just an awesome game,” said Newtown head coach Shawn O’Brien. “That was one of the best shooting displays I’ve ever seen – inside and outside.”

Allen did not truly heat up until the second period – after the ‘Hawks closed the first period on a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead. Meg Kelley dropped in a three-pointer and added a long-range jumper to fuel most of that run and after a period in which neither team shot well, it appeared as if the ‘Hawks were taking control.

That feeling was even more pervasive after Ashley LaRocque opened the second period with a 12-foot jumper to put the ‘Hawks ahead 15-6.

But then Allen caught fire.

She scored just two points in the first period, but added 15 in the second period and it all started with a three-pointer from the right side.

Then came a couple a field goals inside the arc before she another from outside the arc and just like that the senior guard had scored 10 points and lifted her team to a 16-15 lead. Allen traded baskets with LaRocque and Kacy Foehrenbach but it was her third three-pointer of the quarter that propelled the Lady Panthers into the lead for good.

“We tried everything defensively,” said coach O’Brien, “but (Allen) made it too tough. She took over the game.”

The ‘Hawks kept it close in the third, staying within two after baskets by Carly Curran and Kelley, but the Panthers eventually pulled away. Allen scored eight more points in the period, but Danielle Ulacco also canned a three-pointer as the Panthers went up as much as 10 points.

The ‘Hawks got as close as six points in the fourth, but the Panthers had too much momentum.

It was a disappointing way to end the SWC season after the ‘Hawks had such an inspired win over Lauralton Hall three days before. In the regular season finale (and on Senior Night), Kelley canned 28 points and LaRocque added 22 more as the ‘Hawks swamped the Crusaders, 67-46.

Newtown lost to Hall, 51-42, in the 2004-05 season opener back in December.

Siobhan Cooper scored eight points while Ciara Simek, Curran and Katie O’Connor combined for nine more.

With the loss to Pomperaug, the ‘Hawks dropped to 13-8 overall and await the seedings for the CIAC Class LL state tournament. Currently, the ‘Hawks are ranked 17th in LL on the CIAC web site at www.casciac.org with Manchester (20-0), Mercy (20-0) and Trumbull (19-1) taking the top spots.

Newtown 67, Lauralton Hall 46

LAURALTON HALL (46): Chelsea Dunne 4 1-2 9, Bridget O’Donnell 0 0-0 0, Margaret Galiani 5 0-0 11, Kat Flaherty 2 2-2 6, Ali Keltos 2 0-0 5, Liz Damm 0 0-0 0, Kelly D’Ambrisi 0 0-0 0, Liz Britterham 2 1-2 5, Kellie Luth 1 0-0 2, Maura McCarthy 4 0-2 8. TOTALS: 20 4-8 46.

NEWTOWN (67): Ashley LaRocque 7 8-8 22, Meg Kelley 9 7-8 28, Carly Curran 1 0-0 3, Ciara Simek 2 0-0 4, Siobhan Cooper 3 2-5 8, Katie O’Connor 1 0-0 2, Kristie Nowak 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24 17-21 67.

Three-pointers: Meg Kelley (N), Carly Curran (N), Galiani (LH), Keltos (LH).

Pomperaug 50, Newtown 40

POMPERAUG (50): Tara Koliani 0 0-0 0, Danielle Ulacco 1 0-0 3, Jessica Doyle 0 0-0 0, Jacqueline Johannes 2 5-8 9, Erin Herlihy 0 0-0 0, Amanda Shortt 0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Cates 1 0-0 2, Lexi Allen 10 9-10 32, Paige Moore 1 2-2 4. TOTALS: 15 16-20 50.

NEWTOWN (40): Darcy Fiscella 0 0-0 0, Ciara Simek 3 0-0 6, Carly Curran 2 2-2 6, Kristi Nowak 0 0-0 0, Ashley LaRocque 4 0-0 8, Meg Kelley 6 3-4 16, Siobhan Cooper 0 0-0 0, Kacy Foehrenbach 1 0-0 2, Katie O’Connor 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 17 5-6 40.

Three-pointers: Allen (P) 3, Ulacco (P), Meg Kelley (N).

HOCKEY

Bethel 5, Newtown 4 (OT)

New Milford 3, Newtown 1

It is a simple fact of hockey life that in order to score, one has to shoot.

Through the first 30 minutes of action in a South-West Conference Division II semifinal tilt with New Milford on Monday night at the Danbury Ice Arena, Newtown only put the puck on net twice and neither shot challenged goalie Eric Longobardi at all.

Even though the defense played exceptionally well, the lack of shots was too much for the ‘Hawks to overcome and they suffered a 3-1 loss.

Kevin Crossen, Chris Rasor and Tyler Gravely scored the goals for New Milford, which will move on to face Bethel/Brookfield in the SWC Division II championship game on Thursday night at the Danbury Ice Arena.

Crossen scored first with 6:20 left in the first period. The Wave put 14 shots on net, but Jurasek was solid and made one spectacular glove save that kept the deficit at one. Then Rasor scored with 6:59 left in the second period to put the Wave up, 2-0, as the ‘Hawks were held without a shot for the entire period.

In the third, the Newtown offense began to pressure the net but the Wave went up 3-0 with 6:16 left to play on Gravely’s power-play goal. With 4:06 left, Blaise LaPorta notched the lone Newtown goal as the locals enjoyed a two-man advantage.

The ‘Hawks did score one last goal, but the referees judged it came after the final horn.

Bethel 5, Newtown 4 (OT)

GOALS: Newtown – Joe Brewer 3, Sean LaPorta; Bethel/Brookfield – Dan Campbell, David Holmes, Chris Morrison, Mark Checkosky, CJ Hessenius. ASSISTS: Newtown – Blaise LaPorta 3, Sean LaPorta 2, Steve Borchetta; Bethel/Brookfield – Justin Holmes 3, Craig Beck, Michael Walsh, CJ Hessenius, Mark Checkosky.

New Milford 3, Newtown 1

GOALS: Newtown – Blaise LaPorta; New Milford – Kevin Crossen, Chris Rasor, Tyler Gravely. ASSISTS: New Milford – Anthony Spallone, John Brodski, Eric Tougas, Chris Rasor. SHOTS: Newtown – 9; New Milford – 29. SAVES: Newtown – Mike Jurasek 26; New Milford – Eric Longobardi 8.

WRESTLING

Class LL Championships

A fifth-place medal at the CIAC Class LL state championships, 101 career wins, and a berth in the CIAC State Open.

It has been a fine season thus far for senior Alex Read, who defeated Jason Sandler of Weston/Barlow last Saturday at East Hartford High School to earn the fifth-place medal in the 189-pound division.

But that came after Read defeated Joe Laduca of Danbury to capture his 100th career win and secure himself a spot in the 100-win club along with James Monroe (147), Jon Read (136), Steve Selezan (121), Nick Feola (108) and Kyle Turoczi (100).

Read could have seen his career come to an end at 99 wins, but he overcame a 2-0 deficit against the formidable Laduca to reach the championship medal rounds. In the second period of that match, Read roared back with a reverse and three sets of back points to give him a 10-2 lead. After a couple exchanges of points, Read finished the third period with a takedown and another set of back points for a final 17-6 victory.

As he moved on, though, Read suffered a second-period pin against third-seeded Mike Riley of East Hartford and was bumped to the fifth-place match against Sandler of Weston/Barlow. There, Read pinned Sandler at 3:29 for the medal.

Only the top four wrestlers advance to the State Open, but Read earned his trip as an alternate after Matt Vernik of Amity was forced to withdraw with a badly injured ankle.

In other action, senior Bob Pattison (171), senior captain Skye Perry (160), senior Brandon Thomas (215), and freshman Marc Bonamici (112) all wrestled very well and made it deep into the championship’s second day.

Pattison finished seventh overall and narrowly missed the medal rounds, dropping a 5-3 decision to fourth-seed Luis Miranda of East Hartford. Pattison finished his one season of wrestling with 32 wins, a school rookie record.

Meanwhile, Perry finished with 27 wins for the year and a team-high 20 pins.

“It was a very good season,” said head coach Al Potter. “We started out 9-2 as we were hit with a huge number of injures but the team fought through it and won our last three matches to finish strong.  That shows determination and unwillingness to give up. Because of the large number of people being out we got to put a lot of young wrestlers in the lineup and we liked what we saw.”

The Nighthawks will return a strong base for 2004-05 with juniors Jeff Lipnick, Colin O’Connor, Gary Andrews, Ben Snyder and Kim Solheim and a solid set of young wrestlers ready to move up in Kenny Cardelle, Bonamici, Dana Van Buskirk, Bryant Aliaga, Mubaraq von Schleusinger, Zach Klein, and Anthony Klabonski.

Danbury won its a state record ninth-straight Class LL championship, scoring a state record 311½ points in the process. Newtown finished 26th overall with 29 points.

INDOOR TRACK

CIAC State Open

One last shot, one last record.

It wasn’t enough that Julie Landin, Whitney Allison, Colleen Thornberg and Sadie Ball destroyed the 4x400 medley relay school record at the CIAC Class LL state championships but the foursome trimmed it even further at the CIAC State Open last weekend at the New Haven Athletic Center.

The record started at 4:31.3, a mark set by Janelle Tracy, Beth Chontos, Lindsey Carley and Becky Crane at the Brown Invitational back in 1997. But it fell all the way to 4:21.37 just two weeks ago at the CIAC Class LL championships before dropping even further to 4:18.27 last weekend in the State Open.

With the time, the relay earned a 15th-place finish.

In other action, Ball also took 15th in the 1,000 meters at 3:14.45 while Quincey Blanchard was 13th in the high jump at 4-9. On the boys’ side, Charlie Baldour finished 13th overall in the 3,200 meters at 10:15.92.