Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team remains in a battle for one of the last South-West Conference Tournament playoff spots as the regular season winds down. The Nighthawks head into an important finale at Bethel (Thursday, February 13 at 7 pm) clinging to their hopes of continuing the SWC season but also controlling their own destiny and with multiple paths to the SWC postseason — win or lose.

The Nighthawks and Bethel are tied in the standings at 6-6 and holding the final two of eight conference playoff spots, with other playoff hopefuls — Pomperaug of Southbury and Immaculate of Danbury (both 5-7) looming as they head into their matchup. Newtown holds the tiebreaker over Immaculate and Pomperaug holds the tiebreaker on Newtown; Immaculate can get in with a win and a Newtown win due to holding the tiebreaker on Bethel.

NHS is coming off a 46-44 loss on a buzzer-beater by visiting Weston on February 7 and a bounce-back 78-39 doubling up of visiting Brookfield on Senior Night, February 10. Seniors Jack Glassman, Drew Bradley, and Asher Williams were recognized and went out and helped the Nighthawks to the lopsided triumph.

A dozen Hawks played and 11 registered points in the victory. Aidan Walker scored 16, Bradley had 15, Emmet Regan 13, and Glassman 11 to lead the offense. Williams added six points and Marcus Gerace had five. Walker and Glassman each hit a pair of 3-pointers.

In the Weston game the Nighthawks used strong defense to give themselves a chance but a combination of turnovers and missed shots added up to the Trojans prevailing.

Not much separates the Nighthawks from pretty much any of their competition; this was the team’s sixth loss by six or fewer points, but these close outcomes going the other way led to a convoluted finish to the regular slate.

Basketball is a game of runs and the matchup with Weston epitomized that. Weston did not score for the first 3:55 of game action and, after getting in offensive gear with 17 points over the final 4:05 of the first quarter, went scoreless another five minutes to begin the second. It was 21-20 Trojans at halftime despite being shut out for more than half of the first half.

More of the same after the break. Weston built a 12-point lead and was ahead 37-27 going into the fourth. The Nighthawks held the Trojans to just two points during the first nearly six minutes of the final stanza and clawed all the way back for a 41-39 lead thanks to a 16-2 run.

Down 39-32 the Hawks went on a 9-0 run started by a Bradley drive for two points. A Quinn Velez basket off a pass from Walker trimmed the deficit to three at the mid-point of the fourth. On Newtown’s fourth consecutive possession with a chance to get closer or tie they finally did the latter on a Walker right-corner 3-pointer. It was 39-all with 3:21 to play. After another defensive stand the Hawks finally went ahead with Williams capitalizing on a Walker pass with 2:47 left.

A Newtown turnover led to Weston going back in front. The Hawks responded with Regan taking a long pass from Bradley and finishing a 3-point play the old fashioned way with a basket and foul shot. It was 44-42 Nighthawks with 2:05 to go.

Weston tied the game at the free throw line with 53 seconds left. Weston had possession and called a late timeout. Weston’s Josh Wallace let the clock run down then drove into the paint and scored just as time expired.

Bradley finished with 14 points and Velez had 12 to lead Newtown on offense. Walker, who regularly puts up around 20 points, was held to seven as Weston’s D forced Newtown’s shooters out of good positioning to connect.

“We couldn’t get things going on offense,” Newtown Coach Matt Murphy said.

The Hawks certainly found their offensive rhythm against Brookfield (one win in conference play). Newtown stands to have a bit more of a challenge against Bethel. The SWC playoffs are set to begin Wednesday, February 19.

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