Jeremy O’Connell, coach of the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team, is optimistic for yet another successful slate. His teams are always in the mix for South-West Conference title contention and this season, the coach believes, will be no different — despite a new feel surrounding the program.

“We really need to work at getting better every day. We’re the most inexperienced team at the varsity level here,” said O’Connell, referring to his roster makeup in 12 years of coaching at Newtown High.

Given Newtown graduated four regulars/starters and the early-season schedule features several challenging out-of-conference games, the Nighthawks may take their lumps early on, said O’Connell, adding that a potentially tough start stands to pay dividends late in the campaign.

Newtown begins the season with a string of nonconference tilts, beginning with a home game against Cromwell on Monday, December 13, starting at 5:30 pm. Other out-of-conference competition O’Connell looks forward to facing includes Darien, Greenwich, Newington, Norwich Free Academy, and East Lyme.

“It’s only going to make us better when you want to play your best, and that’s at the end of the season,” he said.

Senior captains are guard/forward Chloe O’Connell, center Molly McCleary, forward Kendall Reed, and guard Molly Connors.

Other key players to watch, O’Connell said, are center Allie Bradley, guards Bella Gerace and Izzy Caron, and forwards Kristen Reisert and Macey Cuomo.

An uptempo style of play, along with aggressive defense are trademarks of O’Connell’s teams, and the Nighthawks will always look to push the pace. Basketball players will not be required to wear masks during games after the holiday break, but the Hawks do not stand to benefit as much as O’Connell would like given masks will continue to be required in practices as things stand now per the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Winter Sports Guidance.

“The one good thing this year is we’re able to condition as much as possible,” said O’Connell, whose team had to follow coronavirus protocol with abbreviated workouts early on in a season that started late last winter.

O’Connell’s goals are not only to compete for an SWC championship but also to make a run in the State Tournament. Newtown has been in each of the last two conference title games, falling to Notre Dame-Fairfield last winter after defeating Bethel the season before.

Notre Dame brings back a strong roster and again is a favorite in the conference, and New Fairfield can compete with anyone, O’Connell said. Other usual suspects include Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport and Pomperaug of Southbury. O’Connell said there is a lot of parity in the conference and he expects to see some upsets in SWC play.

“The SWC is very strong this year,” O’Connell added.

After competing in the Ridgefield Holiday Tournament against opponents to be announced, December 27 and 29, the calendar turns to 2022 and scheduled SWC action commences, beginning with a Wednesday, January 5, visit to New Milford at 7 pm.

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