CENTRAL NEW YORK – Unlike many area high school girls basketball teams, Cazenovia rested during the holiday break, having gone 4-4 in its first eight games of the season.
But the Lakers faced quite a test when its 12-day layoff ended last Tuesday against Mexico at Buckley Gym, and perhaps that long break played a factor in a 47-39 loss to the Tigers.
Fresh off winning a holiday tournament at Chittenango the week before, Mexico, with a 7-1 record, took full advantage of Cazenovia’s rust, grabbing a 17-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
From there, the Lakers vastly improved and, in the final period, made up a lot of ground, seeing Katie Rajkowski get 10 points as Ella Baker and Olivia Ruddy had nine points apiece, Ruddy hitting on a trio of 3-pointers. Bess Johnson added six points.
Still, the Tigers pulled through, led by the duo of Anyssia Ingersoll and Emma Lawler as Ingersoll picked up 21 points and Lawler finished with 13 points.
Two nights later, Cazenovia hosted LaFayette and, after a slow start, let its defense seize control of the game on the way to defeating the Lancers 32-25.
LaFayette had an 11-4 advantage through one period, but from there the Lakers barely allowed that total the rest of the night, inching in front by the end of the third and then holding the Lancers to just two points in the fourth quarter.
Earning a double-double, Baker augmented her 13 points with 10 rebounds, three assists and four steals. Seven of Rajkowski’s nine points came at the free-throw line as Lucy Bliss grabbed six rebounds and Johnson five rebounds.
Chittenango was 1-6 going into the new year, and it wasn’t made easier last Wednesday night when the Bears took a 54-32 defeat to Bishop Grimes.
The Cobras clamped down on defense and built a 29-11 lead by halftime. Chittenango did fare better in the late stages, Alazayah Smith earning 12 points and Mia McReynolds eight points, but Grimes pulled away led by seventh-grader Aaliyah Zachery’s 14 points and 11 rebounds.
In Friday night’s 57-22 loss to Westhill, the Bears were shut out in the first quarter and were down 27-3 by halftime, Janiah Robinson (11 points) and Izzy Young (10 points) pacing the Warriors.
This Friday night, Chittenango takes on Cazenovia after the Lakers are challenged by reigning sectional Class A champion Bishop Ludden on Monday.
