By Kim J. Harmon

Whenever one sticks a hand in the grab bag box, there is the chance that something really cool (like a complete collection of Abbott & Costello movies on DVD) will come out and there is also a chance that something not so cool (like a singing bass or, worse, a fruitcake) will come out.

It was kind of like that for Newtown High School this past week.

Some things were cool.

Some things were not so cool.

[ Andrew Fiscella scored his 1,000th career point for the boys’ basketball team last Saturday.

[  … but he did it in a 62-46 loss to Southington.

[ The wrestling team won a tough match with archrival Pomperaug and then hammered Foran to start the season 2-0.

[ The hockey team was belted by Bethel/Brookfield (7-0) and Notre Dame of Fairfield (15-0) in a perfectly dismal week on the ice.

Here are all the details –

Inexperience and lack of depth – it was pretty much a given that those were the two things that would plague the Newtown High School boys’ basketball team in 2003-04. While the Nighthawks survived those shortcomings in a season-opening 66-61 win over Platt last Wednesday, but were not so lucky in a 62-46 loss to Southington last Saturday.

“The easy answer (in explaining the loss to Southington) would be our lack of experience,” said head coach John Quinn, “but we just didn’t play well. We knew they could score and we played apprehensively.”

Andrew Fiscella scored 17 points to lead the Nighthawks and on his final bucket scored his 1,000th career point (only the fifth player in Newtown High School history to do so). Ronnie Shimko canned nine points and Dave Anderson added seven against a tight, tight Southington defense.

The defense was so tight, open looks were a rarity. At the end of the first period, Fiscella got the best look any of the ‘Hawks had all afternoon and drained a three-pointer from the top of the key. Josh Rouse had made a move into the lane and as the defense collapsed on him, he dished it back out to Fiscella for the shot.

Nothing came that easy again. The trey put Newtown ahead, 13-7, but Southington began to whittle away at that lead in the second period and – with a 9-0 run (including a three-pointer at the buzzer) – firmly took control of the game.

“I think this is good for us,” said Fiscella. “We have to realize that every game we have to play our best. We have to go out there and play as a team.”

The game against Platt was like a wriggling fish at the end of a line. There were times when the Nighthawks seemed to have it hooked and times – like the end of the fourth quarter – when it seemed as if it would flop back in the water.

In the end, though, the ‘Hawks got the fish into the boat and escaped with the 66-61 season-opening win.

It was a terrific effort by Fiscella, who canned seven of his game-high 25 points in overtime. But no one can discount the tremendous efforts of Anderson on the inside (17 points) or Shimko on the perimeter (12 points). Rouse (4 points), a former hockey player, performed well in his first game and Devon Manfredonia (5 points) was solid at the point in the absence of Marcus Tracy.

Platt – which moved the ball very well – was living on the perimeter all night and popped in 10 three-pointers (five of those by Matt Arthur and three by Gervais Berger). That kind of ability from the outside helped the Panthers stay close … like with 2:34 to go in the fourth quarter when the ‘Hawks sported a seemingly comfortable five-point lead. In the blink of an eye (a quick three, a steal and a lay-up) it was gone.

With just a few seconds left in regulation, Platt made a steal at midcourt and was on its way towards a possible game-ending bucket when Shimko made a tackle in the frontcourt as time expired, sending the game into the extra session.

Platt scored right off the tip to take a 58-56 lead, but with 2:43 to go Fiscella drives to the basket to tie the score. A little less than a minute later Anderson popped in a pair of free throws to give the ‘Hawks a lead it would not relinquish.

With 26.5 seconds left, Anthony Santella put the ‘Hawks ahead, 63-58, with a critical free throw for his first varsity point … critical because Platt raced back down the floor and canned its 10th three-pointer of the night to draw to within two points.

But Fiscella spent the remainder of the period at the foul line, first dropped in a free throw with 15.8 seconds and then – after making a key steal – dropping in two more with 5.3 seconds left. That was enough to provide Newtown fans with a HUGE sigh of relief.

A nice little sidebar to the season is the emergence of Josh Rouse, a transfer from Immaculate who decided to pass on hockey this winter to play basketball. His athleticism and presence in the middle has given the ‘Hawks a real lift.

“Every day he doesn’t just get better,” said coach Quinn, “he gets much better.”

The Nighthawks will return to the floor to take on Staples (in Westport) on Saturday and will host Kaynor Tech of Waterbury on Tuesday. They will open the South-West Conference schedule on Saturday, January 3, at Immaculate.

Platt          14   11    15   16     5 - 61

Newtown 18   10    15   13   10 - 66

 

NEWTOWN (66): Fiscella 7 9-13 25, Anderson 6 5-6 17, Shimko 5 0-0 12, Manfredonia 1 3-4 5, Rouse 2 0-1 4, Oliver 1 0-0 2, Santella 0 1-2 1, Quinn 0 0-0 0 (TOTALS – 22 18-26 66); PLATT (61): Berger 7 2-2 19, Arthur 7 0-0 19, Sojo 4 0-0 8, Carver 0 0-0 0, Ellison 0 0-0 0, Cunningham 2 1-2 5, Highsmith 2 0-0 6, Hyde 1 0-0 2, Noyes 1 0-0 2 (TOTALS – 24 3-4 61).

Three-pointers: Fiscella (N) 2, Shimko (N) 2, Arthur (PL) 5, Berger (PL) 3, Highsmith (PL) 2.

Newtown  13       6     14   13   - 46

Southington 7     17     17   21   - 62

 

NEWTOWN (46): Fiscella 5 6-9 17, Anderson 3 0-0 7, Shimko 3 1-2 9, Manfredonia 1 0-0 2, Rouse 2 0-0 4, Oliver 1 0-0 2, Santella 1 0-0 2, Quinn 0 0-0 0, Lyddy 2 0-0 4 (TOTALS – 18 7-11 46).

Three-pointers: Shimko (N) 2, Fiscella (N), Anderson (N).

Just rollin’ along.

The Newtown High School girls’ basketball team improved to 4-0 last Friday with a convincing 69-31 win over Brookfield. Eleven different players scored at least two points – with Kelley Haines pouring in 22 points (aided by a trio of three-pointers) to lead the way.

The game was well in hand by halftime, with the Lady Nighthawks sitting on a 13-point lead. But in an effort to remove all doubt, the ‘Hawks out-scored the Lady Bobcats 21-1 in the third period to put the game away.

Siobhan Cooper was the only other player in double figures for the ‘Hawks, canning 10 points. Tori Filler (8), Ashley Larocque (6), Jacky Curran (5), Julie Iwanicki (5), Katie O’Connor (4), Kacy Foehrenbach (3), and Stephanie Logan, Jess Palermo and Sarah King (2 each) had a share in the fun.

Iwanicki powered the defense while Haines chipped in with six steals and Cooper added six rebounds and three blocks. The ‘Hawks allowed the ‘Cats just seven field goals in the game.

After a tough, season-opening win over Kolbe Cathedral, the ‘Hawks have been in a groove. But they will be tested on Friday when they meet Simsbury in the opening round of the annual Masuk Holiday Tournament.

And heading into the game against Simsbury, Haines rests on 929 career points, 71 shy of becoming the sixth player in Newtown High School history to reach that plateau (and, of course, the second this year).

Brookfield   8     10       2   12   - 31

Newtown  15     16     21   15   - 69

 

NEWTOWN (69): Iwanicki 1 3-4 5, Curran 2 1-1 5, Logan 1 0-0 2, Larocque 3 0-0 6, Cooper 5 0-0 10, Filler 3 2-2 8, Haines 8 3-4 22, O’Connor 2 0-0 4, Palermo 1 0-0 2, King 1 0-0 2, Gaston 0 0-0 0, Foehrenbach 1 0-0 3 (TOTALS: 28 9-11 69); BROOKFIELD (31): Allen 1 2-4 4, Murphy 0 2-2 2, Koza 2 0-0 4, Rooney 3 7-12 13, Preville 0 1-2 1, Zinser 0 4-4 4, Corriero 0 0-0 0, Stoltz 0 1-2 1, Schockley 1 0-0 2 (TOTALS: 7 17-28 31).

Head coach Alan Potter sure had a lot of high hopes for the Newtown High School wrestling team and it has done nothing so far to dampen those hopes.

The Nighthawks took advantage of an undermanned Pomperaug team last week and opened the 2003-04 season with a 45-31 win. And then on Monday, the ‘Hawks pummeled Foran, 60-23, to run their record to 2-0.

“We have a huge team this year with experienced wrestlers at every weight class,” said coach Potter. “Even with several starters out with the flu, we were able to fill all weight classes with very competitive wrestlers and win these tough opening SWC matches.”

Pomperaug was forced for forfeit four weight classes, giving Newtown an immediate 24-0 edge. From there, the Nighthawks were able to hold on as James Terhaar (140) pinned James Elliott in just 48 seconds; Justin Bass (145) decisioned Nick Annetta, 9-5; Skye Perry (160) pinned Jared Verzello in 1:12; and Alex Read (171) pinned Shawn Dunn in 2:42.

The way the match played out, Newtown took a 12-0 lead when Dan McIlrath earned a forfeit win at 112 and Mike Rambone earned a forfeit win at 119. But Pomperaug came back when Chase Verzello major decisioned Steve Giacolone at 125, Mike DeRosa decisioned Jeff Bray at 130 and Kyle Wakeley pinned Joe Sgammato at 135.

But Terhaar took to the mat with a lot of energy in the 140-pound class and rolled over James Elliott of Pomperaug to earn the pin in just 48 seconds. That got the momentum back on the side of the ‘Hawks.

In the win over Foran, the Lions took an early 6-0 lead when Schierloh was pinned in the 275-pound division, but Solheim (103) earned a forfeit to even the score. Then McIlrath (112) pinned Justin Kristie just six seconds before the end of the third period and the ‘Hawks were on their way to an easy victory.

Rambone (119) and Giacolone (125) both came up with second-period pins while Bray (130) earned a forfeit. Terhaar (135) went to 2-0 in the conference as he pinned Derrick Denault in just 47 seconds to stake the ‘Hawks to a 36-6 lead.

Bass (145) and Perry (160) both earned pins to put the ‘Hawks ahead 48-18 (the Perry pine came in just 43 seconds). The Lions’ last gasp came at 171 pounds, when Richard Meahan earned a technical fall over Read in a 20-5 decision. But Edmund Breitling (189) and Brandon Thomas (215) both earned pins to put the match away (the Breitling pin came in just 17 seconds).

“Coach Steve Ford and I really liked the improvement in the Foran match,” said coach Potter. “The guys wrestled with great intensity and focus, which produced eight pins. We have no superstars on this team, so we have to win with depth, effort and teamwork.”

In between the two SWC matches, the ‘Hawks participated in the 28th annual Guilford Tournament and saw eight wrestlers place in the top five – with Breitling finishing runner-up in the 189-pound class.

“Breitling is one of the strongest kids I have ever coached,” said coach Potter, “and he wrestled very well against those top schools at Guilford.”

Grabbing fourth-place finishes were O’Connor (152), Bray (130) and Perry (160). Giacolone (12), McIlrath (112) and Read (171) just missed the consolation finals for fifth-place. Meanwhile, junior varsity wrestlers Jeff Lipnick (112), Ben Snyder (119), Ryan Peters (135), Gary Andrews (140) and Jesse Gerardi (160) got off to nice starts.

The ‘Hawks will be at the Danbury Tournament on Saturday (first match is at 9 am) and will return to their South-West Conference schedule on Monday, December 29, with a 10 am match against Stratford. The following Saturday, they will be at the Bristol Central Tournament.

Newtown 45, Pomperaug 31

103: McKenna (P) pinned Solheim (N) :38; 112 McIlrath (N) by forfeit; 119: Rambone (N) by forfeit; 125: C. Verzello (P) major dec. over Giacolone (N) 10-2; 130: DeRosa (P) dec. Bray (N) 6-2; 135: Wakeley (P) pinned Sgammato (N) 2:27; 140: Terhaar (N) pinned Elliott (P) :48; 145: Bass (N) dec. Annetta (P) 9-5; 152: Caleca (P) pinned O’Connor (N) 1:15; 160: Perry (N) pinned J. Verzello (P) 1:12; 171: Read (N) pinned Dunn (P) 2:42; 189: Aliaga (N) by forfeit; 215: Krizan (P) pinned Cash (N) 1:43; 275: Schierloh (N) by forfeit.

Newtown 60, Foran 23

275: Wilkinson (F) pinned Schierloh (N) :42; 103: Solheim (N) by forfeit; 112: McIlrath (N) pinned Kristie (F) 5:54; 119: Rambone (N) pinned Velez (F) 2:49; 125: Giacolone (N) pinned Cammarano (F) 2:32; 130: Bray (N) by forfeit; 135: Terhaar (N) pinned Denault (F) :47; 140: Czarneski (F) pinned Sgammato (N) 2:41; 145: Bass (N) pinned Lynch (F) :51; 152: Prutling (F) pinned O’Connor (N) 1:47; 160: Perry (N) pinned Delgado (F) :43; 171: Meahan (F) tech. fall over Read (N) 20-5; 189: Breitling (N) pinned Constantini (F) :17; 215: Thomas (N) pinned Saxton (F) 1:29.

The week before Christmas should be a joyous time, but for the Newtown High School hockey team it wasn’t.

While the Nighthawks had gotten off to a nice 2-0 start in 2003-04 with victories over Joel Barlow and Masuk, they were paid back for that good fortune with a 7-0 loss to Bethel/Brookfield and a 15-0 loss to Notre Dame of Fairfield.

The Lancers unloaded 72 shots in the win, forcing goaltender Mike Jurasec to make 57 saves.

The ‘Hawks looked to rebound on Tuesday (after press time) against Housatonic Valley Regional in a non-conference contest.

With the prospects of finishing first or second in the South-West Conference uncertain (at best), the Newtown High School swim team nevertheless  is looking to fight for the title along with defending champion Brookfield and perennial powerhouse Pomperaug.

The fight got off to a good start with an easy win over Masuk last week.

The Nighthawks hosted New Milford on Tuesday (after press time) and won’t return to the pool until Tuesday, January 6, when they travel to Southbury to take on Pomperaug.

Results of the first two meets were unavailable at press time. They will be forthcoming.