Not having to worry about scrambling to reach the Section III Class B playoffs, the Cazenovia girls basketball team could relax a bit, but also add to its win total in the early days of February.
That didn’t prove too difficult in last Monday night’s game against the combined Institute of Technology Central/Fowler squad at Buckley Gym, where the Lakers rolled to its most lopsided victory of the season, prevailing 56-17.
Cazenovia held ITC/Fowler to eight points in the first half and two points in the third quarter while steadily building an insurmountable lead and seeing Lucy Connor outscore the opposition all by herself, earning 22 points through 10 field goals.
No one else on the Lakers scored in double figures, though the production was spread around. Kaylee Cunningham had eight points, with Danielle Tedesco getting six points. Nine different Cazenovia players had at least one field goal by game’s end.
Having moved above .500 (9-8) with that victory, the Lakers looked for more two nights later at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, and outplayed the Red Devils for long stretches of the game, only to have one bad stretch prove costly in a 50-44 defeat.
Leading 18-14 at the end of an active first quarter, Cazenovia went cold the rest of the half, and VVS, just 3-16 going into the game, took advantage, going on a 15-4 run to lead, 29-22, at the break. The Lakers made up most of that ground in the third quarter, but managed just six points in the final period as the Red Devils held on.
Tedesco led her side with 13 points, while Connor gained 11 points. Saige Ackermann produced eight points and Jenna Britton added seven points. VVS was led by Kaitlyn Reader, who had 17 points, and Brianna Hojohn, who had 14 points.
Then, back at Buckley Gym Friday night, Cazenovia hosted Marcellus with a chance to eliminate the Mustangs from playoff contention – and did so in an emphatic manner, taking over before halftime and going on a 49-28 victory.
Down 9-6 after one period, the Lakers clamped down, forced turnovers and converted on the other end in a 15-4 second-quarter surge. It then proceeded to outscore Marcellus 15-7 in the third quarter to all but put the game away.
Inside, Tedesco flourished, earning 19 points, and when Marcellus surrounded her, Connor got open for a trio of 3-pointers on her way to 17 points. No Mustangs player reached double figures, with Liz White (nine points) leading the visitors.
Monday’s game against Utica-Notre Dame will determine if Cazenovia (10-9) would take a winning record into the sectional tournament.