High school team gives Newtown reason to cheer

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Newtown High School's boys' basketball team has given the grieving Connecticut town something to cheer about.

The team pulled off a major upset Monday in the first round of the state Class LL basketball tournament, beating heavily favored Crosby High School of Waterbury 61-58.

Crosby had lost just once all season and was the No. 2-ranked team in the state. Newtown was seeded 29th in the tournament and had an 8-12 record.

The high school is located about a mile from Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 26 people were killed on Dec. 14.

Coach Tim Tallcouch told the Republican-American newspaper, "It's been a tough three months." He said he told the team at halftime "let's go out and win it for ourselves and for the town of Newtown,' and we did it."