FAIRFIELD — The fifth-seeded Newton High School boys' basketball team used a furious second-half comeback to nearly erase an 18-point deficit before falling 64-55 to the host and top-see Notre Dame-Fairfield Lancers in the South-West Conference Tournament semifinals on March 1.

Newtown trailed 38-20 at the half and by as many as 19 points in the third before getting to within 49-40 after three quarters. The Nighthawks pulled to within 49-45 on a Tyson Mobley 3-pointer with 6:54 to play. Back-to-back Makai Coleman hoops got the Hawks within 51-49 with 5:33 left. The Hawks again turned a two-possession deficit into a two-point hole before falling behind by five. NHS got to within a point as Declan Regan scored in close off a nice feed from Joe McCray with 2:38 left and McCray converted a layup off a turnover to make it 56-55 Lancers with 2:25 left. Liam O'Connell had clutch hoops, including a big 3-pointer during the rally.

Notre Dame finished on an 8-0 run. NHS will look to bounce back in the state playoffs which begin Monday, March 7, when Avon visits NHS at 5:30 pm for a Division II first-round clash. Read more in the March 4 print edition of The Bee.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.