Basketball, Sports

Wildcats Clip Wolves a Third Time

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MORRISVILLE – For a third time this season on a third different court, the Hazen Union boys basketball team frustrated Peoples Academy (PA) with a stingy defense, vaulting them up the Division III rankings with a 10-2 record.

Hazen Union junior Wildcat Morgan Michaud (left) drives the ball up the court past Peoples Academy (PA) defenders Jack Lafayette (center) and Quinn Kalp (No. 12) during action at PA, January 31. Hazen won 70-57.
photo by Vanessa Fournier

Sully Laflam and Brendan Moodie were a potent one-two punch Friday night, pouring in 23 points apiece to down the Wolves on the road 70-57. Laflam knocked down a trio of three-pointers and Moodie added two of his own as the Wildcats scored 24 points in the final eight minutes to break open a two-possession game after three quarters. Moodie continues to be Hazen’s leading scorer in what has been a sensational senior campaign, but Laflam has now scored over 20 three times in the last few weeks, giving head coach Aaron Hill a third scoring option to add to Moodie and super sophomore Jameson Lamarre.

“Sully has stepped up in a big way for us over the past few weeks. He is so strong going to the basket. Smaller guards struggle to matchup with him and his shooting ability makes it difficult for bigs to cover him. He is a very talented player,” said Hill.

For a third straight game against PA, Morgan Michaud smothered Burlington transfer Jack Lafayette, holding the Wolves leading scorer to just 10 points. Jarrison Frazee kept PA within three points at the break with a team-high 11, but it wasn’t enough as they fell to 4-8. Ethan Gann continued to be a force in the paint for the Wildcats with 13 points, 10 boards, and five assists in the win. Hazen’s other two victories over PA this season came at home in the opening round of the Dave Morse Classic and in the Second Annual Winter Solstice at the Barre Auditorium.

Brendan Moodie (center) of Hazen Union aims for the basket while double teamed by Hudson Mace (second from right) and Camden Strong (right) of Peoples Academy during play in the Wolves Den Friday. At left, following the play are Ethan Gann (No. 14) of Hazen and Masson Wells (No. 42) of Peoples. The Wildcats outscored the Wolves 70-57.
photo by Vanessa Fournier

“Morgan has just been huge for us. He has the ability to take the other team’s best guard right out of the game. In all three match-ups with PA, Morgan has done a great job of neutralizing Lafayette,” said Hill.

Hill’s ball club now sits in the No. 2 spot in the current Division III standings behind 13-0 White River Valley. Defending champion Thetford Academy, Winooski and Richford round out the top five. The Wildcats will continue their gauntlet through the rugged Capital League this week with tough matchups against division II U-32 and Montpelier.

“The Capital is such a tough league. Every single matchup we are facing good teams. You need to be ready and prepared to show up every single night or you can lose,” said Hill.

The Wildcats welcome U-32 to the Cat Den on Wednesday night and will stay at home for a tough match-up against a red-hot Montpelier squad on Friday. The Solons 12 game winning streak has them sitting atop the Division II standings at 13-1. The two-time defending champs have won 55 of their last 62 games. Hazen is scheduled to host Stowe next Monday. All Hazen home games can be streamed on Hardwick Community Television (hctv.us).

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