CENTRAL NEW YORK – During the last full week of January, both of Cazenovia’s varsity basketball teams remained fairly busy, and were able to pick up victories.
On the boys side, the Lakers earned its third win in a row last Monday against South Jefferson, controlling the game’s middle stages to produce a 65-52 victory over the Spartans.
Cazenovia trailed 14-13 before it went out in front in the second, further reinforcing that margin with a 23-12 push through the third quarter that created a 53-38 edge.
Winter weather postponed last Wednesday’s game against Camden, which will get made up this Thursday at 6:30, three days after a rescheduled game with Homer that was originally supposed to take place on the road, but got moved to Buckley Gym.
Yet another change in the schedule came when a visit from Westhill, set for this Friday, was moved to Saturday afternoon, tipping off at 4:30.
Meanwhile, the Cazenovia girls basketball team was back on the court last Thursday night, hosting Phoenix and honoring its two seniors, Katie Rajkowski and Hannah Ruddy.
Then the Lakers went out and, against a 9-5 Firebirds side, put together a tremendous stretch of defensive basketball late in the first half that, along with Ella Baker’s production, proved decisive in a 36-30 victory.
Entering the second quarter, Cazenovia trailed 10-7, but in those eight minutes the Lakers manageed to keep Phoenix off the board, a shutout that incldued suffocating defense that produced poor shots and turnovers from the Firebirds.
Though not scoring that much on the other end, Cazenovia still took a 15-10 edge to halftime and, all through the second half, was able to answer every time Phoenix threatened.
This was largely due to Baker, who hit shots from the field along with seven free throws on her way to 20 points, adding seven rebounds, plus an assist, block and steal.
Rajkowski added six points as Bess Johnson and Olivia Ruddy had four points apiece. No Phoenix player scored in double figures as Sara Ruetsch, with eight points, led the way.
