After taking care of business with a 65-53 win over visiting and No 5 Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport in the South-West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on February 26, the No 4 Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team had the unenviable task of taking on top seed Notre Dame Prep in Fairfield in a semifinal matchup two nights later. The Nighthawks were within six points late in the first half before the Lancers pulled away for an 81-54 victory.

In the win over Kolbe, the Nighthawks were led by James Glynn, who scored 24 points; Aidan Walker and Luke Stewart both dropped in 14. The game was tied at 21 apiece before the Nighthawks went on a 9-2 run capped by Glynn’s uncontested layup off an errant Kolbe inbound pass, making it 30-23. The Cougars pulled back to within five at 30-25 going into halftime.

Newtown had an early third quarter four-point trip down the court for a 34-27 advantage. Glynn scored despite a foul and Quinn Velez got to a free throw miss to set up a basket credited to Velez when the ball was inadvertently tipped in by a Kolbe player battling with Velez for the ball. The Cougars stayed in it with a 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to four. Teddy Moxham scored down low, and Walker’s baseline drive pushed the advantage to eight. Leading by nine at the mid point of the third, the Nighthawks broke Kolbe’s press and scored when Glynn took a sharp pass from Marcus Gerace and finished for a 44-33 lead. The Hawks went up by as many as 13 and led 50-38 through three quarters.

Key baskets by Stewart in the fourth, including a 3-pointer and layup following his steal on the defensive end, kept the Cougars from getting any closer than 53-42.

“Great team effort,” said Nighthawk Coach Matt Murphy, adding that the players did a nice job executing the game plan put together by coaches.

At Notre Dame, the Hawks twice got to within six late in the second quarter, with Glynn connecting on a 3-pointer to make it 29-23 and Walker scoring off an assist from Gerace following Gerace’s offensive rebound to make it 31-25. Newtown had chances to get even closer, but the Lancers held on defense and built a 39-25 halftime lead. Notre Dame pulled away early in the third.

Walker finished with 18 points, Glynn 12, Stewart nine, and Spencer Maddox six in the defeat.

The Nighthawks and most of their SWC counterparts have a hill to climb going against Notre Dame, which pulls in student-athletes from various towns, and is traditionally among the conference’s top contenders and is headed to its fifth straight SWC final, having won the last two. Murphy recognizes it is a challenge, but makes no excuses.

“We have to be prepared to play schools of choice,” said Murphy, adding that he is pleased with his group. “I could not be prouder of the kids we have.”

Now it is on to the state playoffs, and the Newtown coach is hopeful his Nighthawks — led by eight seniors — can keep the season going. Newtown is the No 18 seed in the Division II bracket and will visit No 15 Glastonbury in the first round on Friday, March 6 at 5:30 pm (time subject to change; visit casciac.org for updates). The winner visits Trumbull Monday, March 9.

“I love these kids — I really do,” Murphy said. “Working with them has been a pleasure and I don’t want to say goodbye.”

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