NHS Boys’ Basketball—

Hawks Search For Consistent Strong Play In Postseason

By Andy Hutchison

Coming off a somewhat lackluster performance in a home loss to New Fairfield on February 18, Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team rebounded nicely with a great team effort in a win at Joel Barlow in Redding on February 21.

“It was a really nice win because we were flat — there’s no question about it,” said Newtown Coach John Quinn, whose team missed several layups and close-in shots in a 56-44 loss to New Fairfield (which improved to 8-10), then put together a solid all-around effort in the 64-52 win over Barlow (9-11).

The Nighthawks have been this sort of team all year long — alternating wins with losses and losing no more than two in a row at any time in an up and down season. Newtown improved to 9-10 overall heading into Wednesday’s regular-season finale against New Milford (after The Bee sports section went to press).

The Nighthawks went into the New Milford game knowing that, win or lose, their playoff destiny would still be in limbo. Pending the results of Bethel’s and Brookfield’s remaining games — both teams the Nighthawks beat and own tiebreakers over — Newtown could be the No. 7 or 8 seed in the South-West Conference Tournament, or not make the tourney at all.

Regardless, the Hawks have a postseason to look forward to with the necessary eight wins under their belts for state tournament qualification. Whether it’s the SWC or state playoffs, Newtown’s coaches and players are hopeful they will be on their game and have some postseason success. “We’re not a bad team. When we rebound and run, we’re a good team,” Quinn said. “We’ve been up and down all year. When we do what we’re capable of, and we play together, we’re okay.”

“When we play as a team everything’s so fluid it works,” senior RJ Roman added.

The key to the team’s winning ways begins with defense. “We’ve got to play team defense,” junior Josh Barrett said.

Newtown did just that against Barlow. Quinn said Barrett had a solid all-around game and was pleased with the efforts of Matt Datin on defense, and Josh Engler and Taylor Steimle played sold defense and made key shots. Engler dropped in 15 of his 20 points in the first half, and Steimle contributed a pair of clutch 3-pointers. Roman pulled down six rebounds and Newtown was sharp at the free throw line, sinking 21 of 24 shots.