Working past the midway point of its regular season, the Cazenovia girls basketball team knew that it was important to continue to post high-quality results.

The Lakers returned from a week’s rest by traveling to Phoenix last Tuesday and, improving to 8-2 overall, earned a 49-36 victory over the Firebirds.

This wasn’t an easy one as Phoenix emerged from a low-scoring first half with a 19-17 advantage, but then Cazenovia took over, outscoring the Firebirds 20-7 in a pivotal third quarter.

At the forefront again, Lindsey Lawson earned 24 points, half the Lakers’ total. And she had ample support, too, as Julia Bauder got 11 points, Carleigh Szalach had nine points and Molly Brown the other four points

As Cazenovia moves on to take part in last weekend’s Juggler Classic at Utica-Notre Dame before next Thursday’s visit from Skaneateles, Chittenango offered quite a challenge to 10-1 Marcellus last Tuesday night, tied going into the fourth quarter before falling 48-42 to the Mustangs.

Down 17-9 after one period, the Bears gradually made up the deficit until it had caught up at 32-32 with one quarter left.

But here the Mustangs flourished, reclaiming the lead for good thanks to a well-balanced attack. Katie MacLachlan finished with 14 points, with Sarah Fallon earning 12 points. Sam Wynne had nine points and Hannah Durand had eight points.

Ally Shoemaker, who passed 1,000 career points in a Jan. 10 loss to Bishop Grimes, paced the Bears with 12 points, eight steals, five assists and five rebounds.

Cassidy Kelly got 11 points, while Sarah Lanphear had nine points and six rebounds. Emily Moon had eight rebounds.

Looking to recover in Thursday night’s game against Westhill, Chittenango led 13-9 through one period and, despite a Warriors surge before halftime, remained close most of the way.

But Westhill outscored the Bears 20-7 in the fourth quarter and Chittenango lost, 60-44, Shoemaker held to seven points, though she also had eight rebounds, six assists and six steals.

Moon picked up 15 points and five rebounds, Lanphear getting seven points and Mia McReynolds six points. For Westhill, Jenna Larrabee worked inside for 23 points and Catherine Dadey hit five 3-pointers on her way to 17 points.

Having fallen to 7-5 overall, Chittenango visits Solvay and Auburn next week before hosting Phoenix on Jan. 25.