Changes were found everywhere within the confines of the Cazenovia girls basketball program, and they started at the top, with a new coach possessing a last name very familiar to Laker fans.

Kristen Romagnoli has taken over for Chris Carpenter, and is one of Section III’s youngest coaches. Having graduated from Cazenovia High School in 2010, Romagnoli went on to Bucknell University, where she graduated in 2014 before returning to her alma mater as a teaching aid and, now, as a coach.

Romagnoli inherits a program that has held its own in the tough OHSL Liberty division and Section III Class B ranks through the years, and faces big challenges again with the likes of defending sectional champion Westhill, Bishop Grimes, Bishop Ludden, Marcellus and Skaneateles on the schedule.

Before all that, though, Cazenovia opened its season last Monday at Utica-Notre Dame, and getting a big effort from Danielle Tedesco, built a big early lead, and then held on to record a 42-40 victory over the Jugglers.

Like the Lakers, UND underwent its own coaching change when Mike Plonisch, who led the Jugglers to the 2013 state Class B title, was let go after season, and ultimately replaced by Olivia Tooley.

The new-look Jugglers found immediate trouble trying to contain Tedesco in the paint. Fresh off leading Cazenovia’s girls volleyball team to another Section III Class C title, Tedesco led the way as the Lakers built up a 21-11 margin by halftime.

UND fought back in the third quarter, pulling within two, 27-25. From there, the final period was a back-and-forth affair, the Lakers able to answer every time the Jugglers tried to move out in front.

Tedesco didn’t stop until she had put up 22 points, more than half her team’s output. Jamie Joseph, with six points, offered some help, while Bella Wheeler, Saige Ackermann and Lucy Connor had four points apiece. On UND’s side, Claire Sehring had 14 points and seven rebounds, with Stephanie Salerno adding 10 points, but the Lakers held Katie Sehring to six points and nine rebounds.

Good as that was, Cazenovia couldn’t enjoy it much because, two days later, it was hosting Westhill, who returned all five starters from its 2014-15 sectional championship team. But the Lakers almost beat them, the Warriors requiring a big late comeback to pull out a 48-44 decision.

Cazenovia did catch Westhill at a good time. Not only was it the Warriors’ season opener, several of its players, including standouts Mackenzie and Delaney Martin, were less than two weeks removed from finishing a volleyball season where they led Westhill to the state Class B final four in Glens Falls.

Working it inside with Tedesco (who had 17 points) and outside with Connor (whose 14 points included a pair of 3-pointers), Cazenovia built its lead throughout the first half, relying on a 9-2 run in the second quarter to go up 27-20, only to surrender an 8-0 run at the start of the third quarter before climbing back in front, 35-33.

A tense fourth quarter followed. At one point, Cazenovia was up 42-37, but with Tedesco on the bench nursing four fouls, Westhill took advantage, Mary Kate Washburn converting before but Morgan Elmer’s 3-pointer tied it, 42-42, with 1:22 left.

Mackenzie Martin’s free throw briefly put Westhill in front, 43-42, but Connor answered with a pair of foul shots with 30.4 seconds to play. Up 44-43, Cazenovia needed one more stop, but instead Washburn, working inside, converted with 15.7 seconds left, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw.

Now trailing by two, Cazenovia got two late possessions, but turned it over once and saw Connor miss a possible winning 3-pointer before Washburn, fouled with three seconds left, sank the clinching free throws for the Warriors.

Two free throws with 3.0 seconds left clinched it for Westhill, who got 17 points from Washburn and 11 points from Delaney Martin, it also quieted most of the Lakers around Tedesco and Connor. Only Jenna Britton, who had seven points, and Ackermann, with five points, produced field goals beyond that duo.

This tough opening week ended Friday, at Cortland, where the Lakers could not recover from a rough first quarter and lost, 49-37, to the Purple Tigers.

During those first eight minutes, Cortland jumped all over Cazenovia and grabbed a 20-5 lead. When the Purple Tigers went cold, the Lakers pulled within single digits, 23-15, and remained within sight until the final period, when the hosts got away for good.

Tedesco still managed 14 points, while Kaylee Cunningham stepped up with nine points, five of them free throws. All game long, Cazenovia had trouble stopping Cortland forward Shea Swartout, who had 28 points, more than half her team’s output, plus seven steals and four rebounds.

The Lakers would return home Monday night to face Hannibal, and stay at Buckley Gym Friday night to host Skaneateles.