Needing to win its final two contests to qualify for the Class LL State and South-West Conference tournaments, Newtown High School's boys' basketball team got half the job done with a season-saving 74-67 victory over visiting Torrington, on February 18.

The Nighthawks head into the regular-season finale, at Stratford on Tuesday, February 21, with everything on the line.

The Hawks and Stratford Red Devils, with identical overall and conference play marks (7-12 and 5-7), are in the same situation, in need of a victory to not only qualify for the state playoffs but to get into the SWC bracket. The winner secures the conference tourney's eighth seed and, regardless of the SWC playoff outcome, will play another day when the state tourney begins; the loser is finished until next winter.

Against Torrington, seniors Sam Grossano, with a career-high 23 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals, and Derek Ivey, 11 points and ten rebounds, led the Hawks to victory.  Nick Weiland had ten points, five assists, and six steals, and Tucker Garrity was a critical 8 for 10 from the foul line to account for most of his ten-point night. Senior Tom Cotton had four points, two steals, and a blocked shot. Evan Eggleston scored seven points and had two steals.

The Hawks were 19 of 30 from the foul line; Grossano was 9 for 14 from the charity stripe. The Nighthawks led 18-13 after one quarter of play, 36-35 at the half, and 56-54 heading into the final period.

For Newtown to be in playoff contention on the last day of the regular season is quite an accomplishment considering how the year started for this fairly new-look lineup.

"Starting out 0-5 and being 7-7 since is an exceptional accomplishment for this team, especially the three seniors," Newtown Coach Tim Tallcouch said.

"This squad hasn't quit all year. What is really important for the underclassmen is that we have been playing meaningful games in February - can't underestimate how important that is for the returnees moving forward.

"Tuesday is all I could have asked for beginning January 10," said Tallcouch, referring to the upcoming game with Stratford, and Newtown's winless status heading into its January 10 game with Brookfield.

The Hawks defeated Brookfield for what was their first win at the time. One of the team's first five losses was later changed to a forfeit victory because Kolbe Cathedral had beaten Newtown with an ineligible player.