A solid defensive effort by Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team limited visiting New Milford to its lowest point total in seven games, as the Nighthawks defeated the two-time South-West Conference Champion Green Wave 39-28 on January 3.

Newtown led 14-12 at halftime and built a 28-23 advantage after three quarters. After surrendering an early-quarter bucket the Hawks did not allow a field goal until 49 seconds remained in the third. The Wave hung in there with some free throws but baskets by Newtown’s Sam Diaspro, Cassie Pickering, Addy Cordova, and Ana Morris — who hit a 3-pointer — enabled the Hawks to pull ahead by five.

Leading just 21-20 with just under two minutes to go in the third the Nighthawks started to really find their game. Diaspro drove to the basket for two points and Morris followed with her long-range shot for a 26-20 advantage. New Milford converted a 3-point play the old fashioned way, with a hoop and free throw. Cordova’s mid-range jumper capped the third-quarter scoring.

The strong D continued in the fourth. Newtown forced a turnover just nine seconds into the stanza and the Hawks stretched the lead to eight on a Diaspro straightaway 3. After Mo Murphy’s defensive efforts forced a turnover Diaspro cashed in near the rim. Pickering scored down low off a nice back-door feed by Ava Rochester to make it 35-23. A putback by Pickering made it 37-23 at the midpoint of the fourth. New Milford scored its first basket with 3:45 left and registered only one more hoop in the fourth, a late 3-pointer.

“New Milford’s a well-coached team. They have some really good kids and we knew we were going to be in for a battle. Heck, they won the last two SWC Championships,” Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell said.

Newtown’s coach said the Wave dictated the play in the first half and his squad turned the tables after the break.

“I feel like toward the end of the third quarter and throughout the fourth quarter it was how we wanted to play,” O’Connell said. “Up-tempo but under control. We want to play fast-paced but under control.”

Diaspro had 15 points and Pickering dropped in a dozen to lead the offense. Diaspro grabbed seven rebounds and had four steals; Pickering had ten rebounds — five at each the offensive and defensive ends of the floor — to earn a double-double.

Murphy drew a charge and Diaspro, Cordova, and Pickering all blocked shots. The game featured several tie ups, especially in the early going.

Newtown visited Joel Barlow of Redding on January 7 and won behind another stellar defensive effort, 33-25. The Nighthawks improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in SWC play.

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