Hawk Girls Upset By Falcons In Quarterfinals

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team didn’t get its shots to avenge regular season losses to South-West Conference rivals Lauralton Hall of Milford and Pomperaug of Southbury after all. The third-seeded Nighthawks were upset 58-54 by No. 6 Joel Barlow of Redding in the conference tournament quarterfinals in Southbury on February 18.

“We couldn’t hit a shot and they hit everything they needed to,” said Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell who, along with his team members, entered into the tournament optimistic it could successfully defend its SWC title from 2011.

Newtown had beaten Barlow by 20 points late in the regular season and that didn’t help matters much, O’Connell noted.

“I think it hurt us playing them last week and handling them easily and turning around and having to play them again,” he said. “We had every opportunity to win and didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”

Newtown, despite its shooting woes, had a trio of players — the three captains, in fact — in double figures. Riley Wurtz scored 23 points, Bridget Power had 17, and Jess Lynch added 12.

The coach added that Barlow was a deceptive sixth seed. “At the beginning of the year I knew Barlow was a top-four team in the conference,” said O’Connell, adding that injuries hurt the Falcons and their seeding.

It was a close game throughout. Barlow held a one-point lead at the halftime break and Newtown pulled ahead with a slim lead in the third. “I feel like we got a little tight at the end and played more to not lose than to win,” O’Connell said.

Now, the Nighthawks will turn their attention to the Class LL State Tournament. Newtown (which was 17-3 in the regular season) earns the No. 9 seed, O’Connell said. The team will open up tourney play at home, against Amity of Woodbridge (11-9) in the first round on February 27. Pending upsets, the Hawks could face No. 8 Trumbull (also 17-3) and No. 1 Danbury (20-0) in second round and quarterfinal round action.

The Nighthawks, O’Connell believes, will benefit from some time away from game action to come out with a clean slate in another tournament. “Last year was such a magical ride that we weren’t able to be tired or think about anything,” the coach said of his team’s run to the top of the conference. This year, in comparison, Newtown — as defending champs — has had to play the role of the team to beat.

O’Connell said the Hawks, after some needed time off, would play some scrimmages to sharpen up for the state tourney. “I think the focus will be back,” the coach said.