By Kim J. Harmon

The Newtown Middle School basketball teams were probably more anxious to hit the holiday break than most folks – only so it would give them an opportunity to forget losses suffered to Rochambeau last Thursday at home.

The boys dropped a thrilling 58-55 decision as Rochambeau rallied back from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit despite monster performances from Matt Datin and Josh Engler. The girls dropped a more lopsided 34-13 decision despite a solid performance from co-captains Maggie Donahue and Alex Grant.

Read on –

BOYS BASKETBALL

Rochambeau 58, Newtown 55

Whenever it looked as if the Newtown Middle School boys’ basketball team was ready to hit cruise control, Rochambeau wheedled its way back into the game … and wheedled its way back just enough to escape Newtown last week with a win.

The Lions saw a 10-point lead disappear last Thursday as Rochambeau went on a 20-7 fourth-quarter tear to earn a shocking 58-55 win.

The Lions dropped to 1-1.

Matt Datin and Josh Engler tossed in 23 points apiece dominated the game for the locals, but critical misses and turnovers down the stretch enabled Rochambeau to rally and take the lead with just 39 seconds left to play. A couple of foul shots with 13.3 seconds left and a steal on Newtown’s final run down the floor sealed the win for the visitors.

Oliver Powers contributed four points while Brian Reed and Sean Maher added two points apiece. Max Brazo had a foul shot while Rob Frangione and Ishan Tatake (with one beautiful assist on an Engler basket) had solid floor games.

Rochambeau jumped out to an early first-quarter lead, but the Lions went on a 13-1 lead to build up a 22-14 lead midway through the second period. A little later, Rochambeau went on a 9-2 run to tie the game back up, but Datin banked a shot in and Engler added a another on a drive at the buzzer to stake the locals to a 30-26 halftime advantage.

The game remained close in the third, but once the Lions picked up the temp a one-point lead quickly ballooned into a 10-point lead. After Datin hit a runner, and one, Powers canned a basket on the fly and added another a moment later. Datin then knocked down consecutive shots to put the Lions ahead, 46-36.

Engler dropped in a follow-up shot later to keep Newtown on by double digits, 48-38, at the end of the third.

A 12-2 run – aided by a pair of three-point baskets – enabled Rochambeau to erase that lead very quickly. The Lions still had some life, though, and after Maher canned a pair of free throws the locals had a 54-50 lead with about two minutes left to play.

Rochambeau would close out the game, however, on an 8-1 run.

The Lions will return to the floor after the holiday break, taking on Jockey Hollow on Wednesday, January 3.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Rochambeau 34, Newtown 13

If effort translated into points, then maybe the Newtown Middle School girls’ basketball team would have fared better last week.

Alas it isn’t and though the Lady Lions played hard for 32 minutes, they were swamped by a tough Rochambeau team, 34-13. Co-captain Maggie Donahue led Newtown with 11 points while Alex Grant helped keep the team poised with determined play and leadership.

“The girls never gave up and played hard the entire game,” said head coach Will Ryan. “That is always more important to me than the score at the end of the game.”

Natalie Dunn and Christie Iorfino played aggressively and had nice floor games for the Lions, now 1-1. The locals will return to the floor following the holiday break, hosting Jockey Hollow on Wednesday, January 3.