Newtown High’s boys’ basketball team defeated visiting Staples of Westport 41-39 in the December 30 consolation game of the Wounded Warrior Project Tournament. Also on December 30, the Newtown hockey team skated to a 4-1 win over Joel Barlow of Redding, at Danbury Ice Arena.

After suffering a pair of tough-to-swallow overtime defeats, one of which went to double OT, the basketball team had yet another game go right down to the wire. The Nighthawks – this time – avoided overtime, and a loss.

Tom Cotton drained three clutch free throws in the waning seconds as the Hawks overcame a late deficit to prevail. With Newtown trailing 39-38, Cotton drew a foul call on a drive to the basket with just 4.9 seconds remaining. A technical foul on Staples gave Cotton an extra two free throw attempts, and Newtown a mid-court inbound following the free throws.

Cotton, after missing his first shot, calmly sank the next three, and Newtown held on for its first win of the season, improving to 1-3.

Cotton and Mason Melillo both had nine points, and Dillon Palumbo added seven for the Hawks. Cotton was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Hockey Team Beats Barlow

The hockey team, in just its fifth clash of the campaign, matched its win total of all of last winter; the Nighthawks improved to 4-1 by winning 4-1 behind goals by Domenic Cartelli, Scott McLean, Jiyei Hawke, and Devin Marsh.

The Nighthawk skaters visit New Milford, at Canterbury School, on Wednesday, January 6, beginning at 8:15 pm. Newtown’s next home game is set for Saturday, January 9, when the Lyman Hall-Haddam Killingworth-Coginchaug team visits Danbury Ice Arena, for a 2:10 pm faceoff.