Rivard reaches 1,000, joins elite group as Lady Cats roll

HARDWICK – Hazen Union’s Kelsie Rivard became the first underclassmen to join the 1,000 career points club since Isaiah Baker, last week as the Lady Cats stormed past U-32 and Peoples Academy to improve to 12-1 on the season.

Hazen Union junior Kelsie Rivard (center) scored her 1,000th point, January 28, during a home game against U-32. The two most recent Hazen students to reach that milestone were Caitlyn Davison (left) in 2024 and Tyler Rivard (right) in 2023. They traveled from Johnson City, Tenn., to surprise Kelsie and present her with the game ball. The only other time a junior girl has reached the 1,000-point mark at Hazen was Jennifer des Groseilliers in 1991.
photo by Vanessa Fournier

Rivard netted a team-high 21 points last Wednesday to power Hazen to a 55-30 home win over U-32. Julia des Groseilliers secured a defensive rebound early in the second quarter and handed off to Rivard who went coast-to-coast, finishing off the glass with her right hand to give her nine points on the night and 1,000 for her career. Rivard became only the second underclassmen in Lady Cat history to reach the milestone, with the other, of course, being Jenn des Groseilliers, the school’s all-time leading scorer with over 1,900 career points. The game was stopped and Rivard was recognized at center court by Hazen athletic director Aaron Hill in front of a packed Cat Den.

Hazen Union junior Lady Cat Kelsie Rivard aims for the basket defended by Lydia Thrombly of U-32 January 28, during play in Hardwick. Rivard needed eight points to reach her 1,000th and by the end of the game she was the team’s high scorer with 21 points. Hazen topped U-32, 55-30.
photo by Vanessa Fournier

She was brought to tears when it was announced that two all-time Hazen Union greats (Caitylyn Davison and brother Tyler Rivard) made the trip from Tennessee to witness the historic event in person. The junior forward has now filled out an impressive family tree of elite athletes in her family. Tyler is the only player in school history with 1,000 career points and rebounds and her mother Sue (Lady Cat assistant coach) was the all-time scoring leader at North Country for 29 years.

Kelsie is on pace to join her brother in the 1,000 career rebounds club and set the single game scoring record earlier this season with 43 against Randolph.

“It has been surreal watching this unfold. I think Kelsie has always kind of felt like Tyler’s little sister at Hazen and it has pushed her to work incredibly hard on her game both mentally and physically. I think she probably feels like she’s finally proven herself and that kind of growth doesn’t happen without tremendous support from family, friends, coaches and teammates. Randy Lumsden (Lady Cat head coach) has been instrumental in this journey, knowing how to push her, never letting her settle and believing in her when she doubts herself. Watching Kelsie and the team play at North Country a couple weeks ago was a full circle moment for me. North Country was so gracious and welcoming and many people who watched me play showed up that night to watch Kelsie. I can’t put into words how much that meant to me. I feel so grateful that my whole family was able to be part of her big night and are part of the Hazen Sports Community. Kelsie’s surrounded by such a talented group of teammates who have truly put the work in. Now that we’re past the milestone, I think everyone can refocus on the bigger goal of bringing more championship banners back to Hardwick,” said Sue Rivard.

Mya Lumsden of Hazen Union breaks away for a lay-up against U-32 January 28. She was the second top scorer in the game for Hazen with 16 points. Hazen outscored U-32, 55-30.
photo by Vanessa Fournier

Junior teammate Mya Lumsden complemented Rivard’s big night with 18 points of her own, with Autumn Dailey chipping in with six. Paige Parker and Payten Pecor led U-32 with nine points apiece in the loss.

The Lady Cats refocused quickly on Friday night, steamrolling Peoples Academy (PA) for a second time this season 63-33 at home. Mya Lumsden poured in a team-high 20 points and Rivard added 18 in the win. Taylor Thompson (13 points) and Autumn Dailey (10) combined to drain four three-pointers on the night for Hazen. Daisy Berg (24 points) was on an island for Lady Wolves as they have now been outscored 117-57 in their two games against Hazen this season. The loss dropped PA to 6-6 on the season and they now have their work cut out for them if they are to equal last season’s Final Four success in a loaded Division III bracket.

The Lady Cats remain atop the current Division III standings but will get a stiff test against Division II powerhouse, Lamoille (14-0), this week. Hazen welcomes Lyndon Institute to town on Wednesday before making the short trip to Hyde Park on Friday night to take on the Lady Lancers. They’ll stay on the road for a Capital League clash with Montpelier next Monday. All home games can be live-streamed on Hardwick Community Television (hctv.us).