It was an interesting and also frustrating finish to the regular season for Newtown High School’s girls’ basketball team.

Newtown visited Bethel in a crucial game with big South-West Conference playoff implications on February 17. The Nighthawks lost 47-44 in overtime, likely dropping the Hawks (10-3 in SWC play) to the No 4 seed and having to host a tournament play-in game, Coach Jeremy O’Connell said.

Sam Diaspro had 26 points and Ana Morris had 11, but it wasn’t enough for a crucial win. In the old format the top eight teams in the conference qualified. This year, a rule change allows for all teams that qualify for their state tournaments to get into the SWC bracket regardless of SWC record. As a result, there are 13 qualifiers, so only the top three teams get a bye.

Newtown is headed for a qualifying-round home game against No 13 New Fairfield (a team the Hawks defeated 52-29 in the regular slate), even though the Rebels won just one conference matchup all season. The opening round games are scheduled for Monday, February 23 at 6 pm, with quarterfinals the next night, giving the Hawks no time to prepare for their next opponent.

This is disappointing for the Nighthawks, a team that led Notre Dame Prep, the top seed which went unbeaten in conference play, for three quarters before losing a close battle, and that has been near the top of the standings all season long. The Hawks, however, have confidence as they enter into the playoffs.

“I’m really happy and really excited for this group because they work hard,” O’Connell said.

The Hawks won their Senior Night game, defeating Brookfield 47-37 on February 12. Senior captains Addy Cordova, Macey Arcario, Diaspro, and Kendal Khazadian, along with fellow final-year high schoolers Leah Morris and Lyla Kopp, were all recognized before helping the Nighthawks to victory.

“Senior Night is the hardest night there is,” said NHS Coach Jeremy O’Connell, noting that the players are pushed hard throughout their careers.

The Nighthawks led 27-17 at the half. The lead grew to 14 when Diaspro connected on a 3-pointer off a baseline inbound to make it 33-19 Nighthawks. It was 36-24 after three quarters. Diaspro opened the fourth-quarter scoring with consecutive baskets, driving to bank home a hoop before going coast-to-coast. Khazadian’s 3-pointer from the left corner answered a Brookfield basket and extended the lead to 17 before the Bobcats went on an 8-0 run to get the deficit back to single digits with 3:53 to play. Madi Weston scored off a nice pass from Ana Morris to end the run and the Nighthawks defense limited Brookfield to three points the rest of the way.

Diaspro had 18 points, Ana Morris ten, Addy Cordova seven, and Weston six. Arcario had eight rebounds and Weston had seven rebounds. Weston and Diaspro both had two steals.

After a scheduled Friday, February 20 nonconference visit to West Haven at 6 pm, it is on to the postseason.

The Nighthawks are hoping for deep playoff runs in both the conference and state tournaments, but, win or lose, basketball will continue in late March for Diaspro and O’Connell. The player-coach tandem was selected to participate in the 62nd Annual JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Basketball Classic, an all star game scheduled for Saturday, March 28, at Staples High in Westport.

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