By Steve Bigham

MONROE – The Newtown Middle School boys’ basketball team advanced to the finals of the Jockey Hollow Tournament in Monroe February 14, only to lose there to the host team, 50-46.

Following the tip, Newtown was called for three-straight offensive fouls, which essentially took the team out of its game.

“It took away my team’s dribble penetration, so we couldn’t get the ball down low and we weren’t hitting our outside shots,” said head coach John Girard. “I’ve never seen so many off foul calls in a game.”

All told, the refs called six off fouls on Newtown and none on Jockey Hollow.

Girard, who rarely complains about the officiating, felt that the men with the whistles decided much of the game.

“Whenever my big guys went up for a shot, they had guys dripping off their arms and they weren’t getting the calls,” Girard said. “It was one of those nights.”

Brennan Coakley and Josh Rouse played well underneath for Newtown each scoring 16 points. Stephen Lamb added six points and eight points.

The Lions, who were up two at halftime, were without the services of Marcus Tracy, who missed the entire tournament due to illness.

Newtown advanced to the finals with a 52-47 victory over Shelton February 14 as Anthony Santella nailed two three pointers on his way to a 15-point night. The guard also added five assists.

Rouse added 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Coakley was held to just four points, but hauled down 18 rebounds and blocked three shots. Lamb chipped in with nine points and 13 boards and Kyle Lyddy added seven points and four steals.

Newtown – with a record of 11-3 – wraps up its season next Tuesday afternoon at Bethel.