Hazen Union senior Caitlyn Davison drives the ball up the court during action against Richford, February 8. At right is Mikayla Chagnon of Richford. The Lady Cats prevailed 46-32.
HARDWICK – The Hazen Union girls’ basketball team passed their biggest remaining tests of the regular season with flying colors last week with impressive wins over Enosburg and Richford to run their winning streak to 14 straight games.
Senior Caitlyn Davison continued to torch opposing defenses, scoring a game-high 25 points to lead Hazen to a 54-31 home win over Division II Enosburg. Davison added 12 rebounds to her impressive night as the Lady Cats broke open a tight game at the break with a 21-3 run to start the second half.
Freshman Kelsie Rivard added 12 points and a game-high 16 boards and is rounding back into form since returning from a foot injury.
Fellow Freshman Mya Lumsden chipped in seven for Hazen in the win.
Lilly Robtoy led Enosburg with 10 as they evened their record at 8-8 on the year.
The Lady Hornets handed head coach Randy Lumsden a loss in his team’s season opener last winter in what was his first game taking over the Lady Cat program. His team’s regular season record is an eye popping 33-1 since.
The Lady Cats celebrated Senior Night by sweeping the season series with fellow division-contender Richford 48-32 at the Cat Den last Thursday.
Rivard scored 12 more points and pulled down a game-high 16 boards to help Hazen take a 22-18 edge into the break.
Julia des Groseilliers scored 10 points in the paint and Mya Lumsden scored seven of her nine points on the night during a 17-4 third quarter run to help put the game on ice.
Kyrielle Deuso and Sierra Derby led Richford with 10 apiece as they fell to 12-4 on the season.
Seniors Caitlyn Davison (five points), Tessa Luther (three points), Sarah Collier, and Craftsbury Academy’s Sadie Skorstad were recognized by teammates and family before the game for their outstanding high school careers.
“We have an amazing group of seniors and they are all team-first players. Two of them actually gave up their numbers to freshman because they knew how much it meant to them. They have also sacrificed playing time and have not once shown any hard feelings. They come to practice every day and work their tails off. They are the best cheerleaders on the bench when they are not playing and are always helping pick teammates up when things might not be going their way. Our coaching staff is truly blessed to have a class of such great character,” said Lumsden.
Hazen Union’s win streak coupled with defending Division III champ Windsor losing three of their last five games, puts the Lady Cats in the top spot for the first time this season. Lumsden’s 15-1 squad will have two tuneups remaining before the postseason that started with a trip to Northfield on Tuesday before wrapping up the regular season at BFA-Fairfax on Thursday night.
