HARDWICK – The Hazen Union girls basketball team made it five straight last week with blowout wins over BFA-Fairfax and Blue Mountain, improving to 17-1 on the season.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Junior Julia des Groseilliers scored a season high 19 points to power the Lady Cats past BFA-Fairfax on the road last Thursday 58-26. Sophomore Kelsie Rivard matched her teammate with 19 and fellow sophomores Mya Lumsden (seven points) and Autumn Dailey (5) rounded out a balanced scoring attack for Hazen. Lone senior Baylie Christensen drilled a three on her special night as she was honored before the game for her outstanding high school basketball career that was cut short by almost two seasons due to injury. Aci See led the Lady Bullets with eight in the loss as they fell to 2-14. Lumsden had the tall order of taking over the offense in just her second season, replacing Lady Cat legend Caitlyn Davison who graduated last spring with nearly 1,200 career points after leading the program to its first Division III title in over 30 years. Lumsden scored a season-high 21 points in Hazen’s narrow loss to West Rutland two weeks ago and feels confident guiding the Lady Cat offense back to the Barre Auditorium next month.
“Taking over the point guard position was a little challenging knowing I had big shoes to fill, but I felt confident that I could do it. I feel very comfortable that I will be able to organize and run the offense that our team needs to defend our state title,” said Lumsden.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Rivard needed just three quarters to pour in a season-high 31 points in a lopsided 58-21 home win against Blue Mountain on Saturday. Lumsden chipped in with nine as a swarming Lady Cat defense held Blue Mountain to just three first half points. Addison Murray led the Lady Bucks with 10 points in the loss. Hazen has gotten season highs from Rivard, Lumsden, des Groseilliers, and Ella Renaud (13 points) in the last two weeks. With Rivard averaging nearly 20 points per game, Lumsden 10, and junior Isabelle Gouin just under double digits, a renewed balanced offense looks to be the recipe for a third straight trip to the Barre Auditorium.
“As we wrap up our regular season, we have had multiple players set season high scoring records. Our team is starting to peak just as we head into the playoffs. Ella, Julia, and Mya have all had stellar performances, which increases everyone’s confidence. When multiple players are contributing offensively, our opponents are challenged to focus on multiple players. This is the momentum we need, and I am proud of the growth our team has made throughout the season,” said Rivard.
The Lady Cats should get a stiff final exam to the regular season as they travel to a Winooski team on Thursday that has won six of eight before staying on the road against a Richford team on Saturday that is ranked fifth in the current Division III standings.
