The host Pomperaug of Southbury High School girls’ basketball team overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Newtown 59-50 in the South-West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on February 19.

Newtown trailed by two points going into the fourth quarter before the Panthers pulled away. The Nighthawks were led by Sam Diaspro with 19 points, Ana Morris with 12, and Mo Murphy with nine.

No. 4 Pomperaug went on to fall to top seed Notre Dame Prep of Fairfield in the semifinals two nights later. Newtown, the No. 5 seed, will play in the Class L State Tournament beginning on Saturday, March 1 when New Canaan visits at 5 pm. The Nighthawks posted a regular-season record of 11-9 and earned the No. 12 seed in the bracket; New Canaan went 8-12 and earned the No. 21 seed.