LAMOILLE – The Hazen Union girls summer hoop team wrapped up their second season in the Lamoille Summer League unblemished last week with a win over Division II North Country.
Monday night’s win over the Lady Falcons pushed the Lady Cats record to 5-0 this summer, stacking up wins against out of division perennial powers St. Johnsbury Academy, Enosburg, Lamoille and BFA St. Albans.
North Country is transitioning after the graduation loss of Sabine Brueck, who led the program to three consecutive Division II title games, winning it all in 2023. Brueck broke the school scoring record this past February set by Lady Cat assistant coach Sue Rivard in 1996 and matched by Kylie Wright in 2018. Brueck will go down as one of the top female athletes in state history, earning Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year honors in both basketball and track and field, as well as representing the Vermont Twin State soccer team in the Lions Cup last month.
Head coach Randy Lumsden, Rivard and junior varsity coach Alison Blaney have juggled rosters this summer between the Lamoille League and AAU basketball for Lone Wolf Athletics. Lumsden has the Lady Cat program on a historic pace since taking over the reins three years ago, breaking the school record for consecutive wins (31) this past winter, set by the great Jan Howard and Penny Libercent, three consecutive Final Four appearances and 20 win seasons, and capturing the program’s first Division III state championship (2024) in over three decades. All five starters return for Lumsden this coming season as juniors and seniors and he’ll add more young talent led by freshman Chloe Moodie, younger sister of Wildcat great Brendan Moodie. Testing his talented squad out of division and out of state this summer was a must as they ready for their first ever season in the rugged Capital League.
“We had a number of girls put in countless hours this summer getting better. We had a great summer league competing against top tier programs out of our Division and we’re excited to see what this winter brings for this hard-working crew. They have continued to mature throughout the summer and remain a tight knit group,” said Lumsden.
