Even before it takes the court, the Cazenovia girls basketball team knows the challenge that awaits.

With a host of strong programs and top players, the Onondaga High School League Liberty division is one of the best leagues in the state, yet the Lakers have proven it can stand up to them.

Cazenovia got to the sectional Class B quarterfinals a season ago, knocking off its neighbors from Chittenango before a defeat to South Jefferson. Now, in 2017-18, head coach Kristin Romagnoli’s squad expects at least to do that well, and perhaps go further.

Practices for the Lakers in November overlapped with the Cazenovia girls volleyball team’s state Class B final four run, so the likes of Lindsey Lawson and Lauren Burbidge had to finish that season before moving on to the next.

Once they did, though, it didn’t take long for Cazenovia to find its rhythm, especially on defense, which was the featured element in last Monday night’s season opener at Clinton, where the Lakers beat the Warriors 45-29.

Through one period, Cazenovia led 9-6, but it proceeded to shut out Clinton for the entire second quarter, recording 13 unanswered points along the way.

Even though the Warriors did break the drought early in the third period, the damage was rendered, and the Lakers cruised from there, Lawson picking up 16 points and Laura Connor adding six points as Hannah Matteson and Lucy Langan had six points apiece.

Two nights later, at Buckley Gym, Cazenovia faced Jordan-Elbridge in its home opener and cranked up the defense to an even greater degree in a 42-20 victory over the Eagles.

More than making up for its struggles from the field (it made just one 3-pointer), the Lakers held J-E to four points in each of the first three quarters, gradually building a 26-12 lead before a closing flourish.

Lawson, by herself, nearly matched the Eagles’ production, finishing with 18 points as Langan got 10 points and Katie Ammann stepped up with nine points.

On Friday night, against Madison, Cazenovia looked to go to 3-0, and again featured its defense to get that third straight wins as it powered past the Blue Devils 37-22.

Neither team dazzled in the first half, but with the issue still in doubt, the Lakers pulled off another full-quarter shutout, keeping Madison off the board the entire third period and building a 29-13 margin.

Just three Cazenovia players got on the board, with Lawson matching the Blue Devils by herself by earning 22 points, Ammann putting up 12 points (including a pair of 3-pointers) and Matteson getting the other field goal.

Chittenango did not open its season until Thursday night, when the Bears welcomed Homer and steadily built a margin through the early stages before hanging on to beat the Trojans 45-43.

Neither side put together a sustained run, Chittenango still gained a 33-26 edge by the end of the third quarter. Led by Caley Cornwell, who had 16 points, Homer nearly caught up by the final buzzer.

But the Bears got just enough from the likes of Mekenzie Dahlin, who led all scorers with 17 points, while Emily Moon had nine points and nine rebounds. Ally Shoemaker recorded 10 assists and seven steals as Cassidy Kelly and Giuliana Farr had six points apiece.

It would get tougher for the Bears Saturday, at Oneida, with the Indians prevailing 72-49 as it started quickly in each half, outscoring Chittenango 24-12 in the first quarter and 25-13 in the third quarter.

Alivia Narolis still managed 13 points, with Moon getting 11 points and six rebounds as Shoemaker had 10 points and seven assists. Oneida’s Ella Rainbow had 21 points, with Lauren Skibitski getting 20 points and Julianna Cavanaugh earning 17 points.

Chittenango gets another big test Thursday night when it hosts Bishop Grimes following a Tuesday trip to Hannibal.

Meanwhile, Cazenovia had its own big game Monday night, at Westhill, before Marcellus arrived on Friday night. In other scheduling news, a home game with Camden originally set for Dec. 11 was moved to Jan.  22.