Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team rebounded from its first loss to a conference foe by finding the key ingredient to its recipe for success — solid defense — in a 59-46 win at Stratford on January 27.

Down 13-12 after one quarter of play, the Nighthawk used a 21-10 second quarter to establish a 33-23 halftime lead and never looked back.

“Nice road win and the defense found itself again,” said Newtown Coach Tim Tallcouch, whose team had held its first five South-West Conference opponents to between only 41 and 43 points each before a 66-62 loss to Masuk of Monroe on January 24.

The Stratford game makes it nine times the Nighthawks have held a team, in or out of the SWC, to 40-something or fewer points on the way to a 9-4 overall start.

Declan Regan had a career high 27 points to go along with 15 rebounds; Eli Williams six points, six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals; Saahil Ray logged ten points and five assists, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to help Newtown seal the win. Makai Coleman had nine points, five rebounds, and three assists; and Andrew Grenier added five points, three rebounds, and three assists.

Newtown faced Notre Dame-Fairfield, unbeaten in conference play, at home on January 30, and fell 66-40. Regan had 16 points, three assists, and 11 rebounds; Coleman dropped in 11; Williams had seven points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks; Ray had six rebounds and a trio of assists; and Connor Hintze tacked on four points, three rebounds, and two steals.

The Nighthawks enter into a busy stretch in early February; following Thursday’s visit to Pomperaug of Southbury, the Hawks host nonconference opponent Platt on Saturday, February 4 at 11:30 am, then entertain Joel Barlow of Redding Monday, February 6 at 7. Read about these games in the February 10 print edition of The Bee.

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