SOUTHBURY — A clash between South-West Conference rivals host Pomperag and Newtown High School, both of which came in with 6-1 overall marks — and that always seem to have competitive battles — not surprisingly provided for a close-throughout contest. Newtown came out on top 52-48 in this January 14 matchup, claiming a lead early in the third quarter and never letting it go despite a valiant effort by the Panthers.

The Nighthawks led 29-25 at the half and 37-32 going to the fourth quarter. They extended the lead to 48-37 but saw the Panthers use a full-court, turnover-causing press and sharp 3-point shooting to get the deficit to within six points with a minute left and down to four with 39 seconds to go.

“No matter who has a big lead, the other team always comes back. That’s why it’s always a great rivalry,” said Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell, adding that the Nighthawks had to keep their composure to hang on.

Newtown started a bit slowly, the coach said, but turned it on after the first eight minutes of play. Down 13-12 after one, the Hawks put 17 points on the board in the second stanza with five players scoring three or more points each in the period.

“Once the second quarter came around we started playing composed, moving the ball around, and making extra pass,” O’Connell said.

The Panthers got the first four points of the second half to knot the score. Amy Sapenter’s drive and bucket off glass made it 31-29 Nighthawks. Shea Murphy made a great save on a ball at the end line under the Newtown basket as she tapped the ball backwards while running out of bounds. It went right to Cyleigh Wilson who promptly nailed a 3-pointer for a 34-29 lead with 4:45 left in the third.

After a Pomperaug 3-pointer trimmed the lead to 34-32 with 3:30 left, Juliette Cryder’s baseline basket made it a four-point NHS advantage with 2:41 to go.

In the fourth, Cryder again answered a Panther 3-pointer that sliced the deficit to just a pair, and Wilson followed with a 3-pointer from the right elbow, making it 42-34 with 5:51 remaining. The Panthers got to within five on another 3, but Cryder again had the Newtown answer, this time converting off a put-back following her offensive rebound, making the score 44-37 with 4:35 left.

Newtown overcame Pomperaug’s tight, double-team defense as Sapenter got the ball to Wilson who spotted a wide open Emma Magazu for an easy basket down low. It was 46-37 with 2:59 left. Magazu made two foul shots with 2:06 left, extending the lead to 11.

The Panthers made back-to-back 3-pointers to get the deficit down to five with 1:20 left. Magazu and Wilson both made clutch front end one and one foul shots in the final minute-plus, helping seal the win.

Players on both sides dove to the court and there were tie-ups as they fought for possession in the final couple of minutes.

“Both teams played their hearts out,” Pomperaug Coach Joe Fortier said.

Sapenter had 14 points and Wilson scored a dozen, each sinking a pair of 3-point shots. Magazu had ten points, Cryder eight, Murphy four, and Carlie Smith three. Sapenter had seven rebounds and a trio of steals.

The Panthers got 13 apiece from Molly Flannagan and Sydney Loundsbury.

Newtown was coming off a 70-37 win over Bunnell of Stratford on January 9. The Hawks visit Bethel in a rematch of last year’s SWC title game, won by Newtown, on Thursday, January 16, at 6 pm.