More tests awaited the Cazenovia girls basketball team as the calendar flipped from January to the decisive month of February, none bigger than trying to fit in games amid fits of bad weather.
The Lakers resumed action after a week’s rest last Friday, traveling to Jordan-Elbridge, where it rolled past the Eagles 58-30 as it steadily worked its way to a 33-14 halftime lead and never let up much in the second half, either.
Lindsey Lawson kept drawing attention, and finished with 25 points, nine of them from free throws. Julia Bauder gained 10 points, with Hannah Matteson adding nine points and Katie Ammann earning seven points.
Then Cazenovia had to travel to New Hartford on Saturday afternoon, with its main challenge attempting to contain the Spartans’ sensational freshman Kaia Henderson, who had already surpassed 1,000 career points.
As it turned out, Henderson would get help as New Hartford beat the Lakers 76-52. Lawson did all she could for Cazenovia, pouring in 30 points as Carleigh Szalach contributed 13 points.
Yet the Spartans still led 63-35 after three quarters, Henderson on her way to 31 points and Sophia Murray adding 21 points, the pair combining to hit nine 3-pointers as New Hartford ultimately connected 14 times beyond the arc.
Road tests early this week against CBA and Hannibal would make it four games in six days, and then Cazenovia (9-7) would rest before meeting Altmar-Parish-Williamstown and J-E back-to-back early next week.
Chittenango, who took an overtime defeat to CBA on Jan. 26, met with more frustration at Auburn two nights later, again unable to hold on to a late lead in a 58-52 defeat to the Maroons.
The Bears held Auburn to six points in the first quarter to go out in front. Then the Maroons pulled within one, 26-25, by halftime, and the paced picked up throughout the second half.
Ultimately, this favored Auburn, who with a strong fourth quarter bolted in front for good as Stefanie Gera led them with 15 points and seven assists, helped by Doray DiLallo (11 points, eight rebounds) and Marlee Solomon (10 points, seven rebounds).
Cassidy Kelly led Chittenango with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Ally Shoemaker got 11 points, seven assists, seven steals and three steals. Mekenzie Dahlin and Sarah Lanphear each had eight points, but Emily Moon was held without a basket.
After Wednesday’s game with APW was moved back to the weekend, the Bears took on ITC/Fowler Friday and won big, 54-16, a 19-0 shutout in the first quarter setting the game’s tone.
Dahlin, with 12 points, added five rebounds and four assists. Moon had 11 points and 10 rebounds as Shoemaker had 10 points, eight assists, four rebounds and four steals. Lanphear contributed seven points and six rebounds.
Then the APW game was made up, and the Bears bashed the Rebels 62-25 as Shoemaker nearly got a quadruple-double, mixing in 11 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals.
Lanphear and Dahlin also had 11 points, with Moon getting nine points and eight rebounds as Ashley Thompson chimed in with six points.
If the schedule held, Chittenango (8-6) would play seven times in 11 days to close the regular season, taking on Solvay, Homer, Mexico and Phoenix this week and then Marcellus on Feb. 11.
