STRATFORD — After the postgame ceremony, while the top-seeded Notre Dame-Fairfield players celebrated their 70-40 triumph over second-seeded Newtown High School in the February 26 South-West Conference championship game at neutral site Bunnell’s gym, the Nighthawk players and coaches met to discuss the positive side of things.

“We just said in the locker room, ‘Last year when we had this talk, it was the end of the season,’” said Newtown Coach Jeremy O’Connell, referring to last season’s state playoff elimination. “This is not the end of our season.”

The Nighthawks will look to shake off the SWC title game defeat and take advantage of the clean slate when the Class LL state tournament gets underway Monday, March 2. The Hawks are the second seed and will host No. 31 Cheshire in the opening round. Game time is set for 6:30 pm; check content.ciacsports.com/tc/ for updates and all of the matchups.

Notre Dame won a hard-fought battle, 56-53, during the regular season but dominated pretty much from the start in the championship clash thanks to accurate shooting from long range and in close.

“It’s a tough thing when they don’t miss and we don’t make anything early,” O’Connell said.

Amy Sapenter’s 3-pointer gave Newtown a 5-4 lead but the Lancers finished the first quarter on a 14-1 run. They led 18-6 after one quarter and 37-16 at the half. They made nine 3-pointers, four by Mac Stone, three from Nique Mayo, and a pair from Yamani McCollough. Stone and Mayo both finished with 18 points, and McCollough scored a dozen.

Sapenter led the Nighthawks with ten points, Juliette Cryder scored eight, Carlie Smith had seven, and Cyleigh Wilson dropped in five. Rebecca Alicea and Shea Murphy both scored three, and Emma Magazu and Allie Bradley each chipped in with two points.

Notre Dame's Erin Harris played solid defense and was named tournament MVP. Teammates Mayo and McCollough were named to the All Tournament Team as were Nighthawks Wilson and Sapenter.

Despite the outcome, O’Connell certainly has good reason to be proud.

“Any time you get an opportunity to get to the SWC championship, you’ve got to be pleased with that,” said O’Connell, whose teams have made three appearances in the pinnacle game in his ten years at the helm, winning twice, including last winter.

Newtown’s coach said the setback to Notre Dame, the only SWC rival to defeat his squad this winter, serves as a teaching moment.

“This is a bump in the road and there are still special things ahead for us,” O’Connell said.

“Newtown’s well-coached. They’re a really, really great team. Hats off to them. They’re going to make a splash in the double L tournament,” Notre Dame Coach Maria Conlon anticipates.