CENTRAL NEW YORK – A new high school girls basketball season is underway, and Cazenovia got to see game action even before the calendar turned to December.
The Lakers went 13-9 a season ago, able to reach the Section III Class B playoffs and win an opening-round game against Canastota before falling to Utica-Notre Dame in the round of 16.
Now in 2022-23, Cazenovia having to move on without Carleigh Szalach, Anna Edwards, Lily Clonan and Hadley Schug, and quickly found out how challenging it might get.
Holland Patent was the Lakers’ opponent in last Tuesday’s season opener, and the host Golden Knights would prevail by a score of 53-35.
Just three Lakers players were able to earn baskets, Ella Baker getting 19 points, Katie Rajkowski 10 points and Bess Johnson six points as the trio combined to make seven 3-pointers.
Cazenovia was done in by a well-balanced HP attack. Kristen Lightall led the Golden Knights with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Emily Carlson had 10 points, Michaela Cushman nine points, Faith Zylinsky seven points and Jillian Enk and Gabriel Way six points apiece.
Hosting Clinton at Buckley Gym on Saturday, the Lakers turned things around and, breaking into the win column, defeated the Warriors 36-30.
Nothing was settled until a fourth quarter where the offenses finally got on track and Cazenovia was able to outscore Clinton 15-11.
Rajkowski stepped up and, with 11 points, led all individuals. Baker earned nine points, with Hayden Bubble gaining seven points.
This followed Friday night’s season opener for Chittenango against East Syracuse Minoa, the Bears mostly tamed in a 41-25 defeat to the Spartans.
Held to two points in the first quarter, Chittenango was in catch-up mode the rest of the way, Hailee Foran and Alazayah Smith leading with seven points apiece. Aniyah Jones paced ESM with 15 points.
