True, the Cazenovia girls basketball team lost to Bishop Grimes Feb. 5 after holding an eight-point lead in the third quarter.
But by pushing the then-undefeated, state Class B no. 2-ranked Cobras so hard, the Lakers gained confidence, and used that momentum to get a pair of impressive wins as the regular season drew to a close with the team sporting a 12-6 record.
Cazenovia paid a visit last Tuesday night to Bishop Ludden, taking on a team that had won five in a row, but with torrid perimeter shooting, the Lakers overcame a slow start and defeated the Gaelic Knights 76-62.
The pace was fast from the outset. Cazenovia took some time getting used to it, but after Ludden took a 19-15 lead, the Lakers started to make everything from beyond the arc, outscoring the Gaelic Knights 41-21 over the course of the second and third periods.
It started with Kate Sullivan, who drained six 3-pointers on her way to a season-best 20 points. Audrey Burbidge was just as hot, getting all 15 of her points from five 3-pointers, while Kelsi Fredericks had three 3-pointers on her way to 11 points. Rachel McLaughlin made a 3-pointer, too, giving Cazenovia 15 of them for the night.
Yet at the same time, Maggie Johnson, with 13 points, and Danielle Tedesco, with nine points, made sure the Lakers had an inside presence. Cazenovia overcame 24 points from Ludden’s top player, Danielle Rauch, while Sara Hayes had 13 points and Allie Weigand added 11 points.
Back home on Thursday night to face Solvay, the Lakers could not replicate that inspired shooting display it provided at Ludden, instead relying on airtight defense to rout the Bearcats 53-25.
Solvay did not score a single point until the second quarter. By then, Cazenovia already had a 15-0 lead, and would maintain control through relentless pressure that wore the Bearcats down.
Johnson was, again, a steady presence in the paint, earning 14 points, while Tedesco had 10 points. The Lakers made just three 3-pointers, one of them by Fredericks, who managed 11 points, and the other two by Sullivan on her way to eight points.
In a 12-team Section III Class B playoff bracket, Cazenovia drew the no. 5 seed. Thus, it has to play in Tuesday night’s opening round – and it’s a rematch with Ludden, the no. 12 seed, with the prize a quarterfinal date at no. 4 seed Skaneateles on Friday.
