HARDWICK – Head coach Aaron Hill and his Hazen Union boys basketball team returns a ton of experience this season as they ready themselves for a fifth consecutive trip to the Division III championship game in March.
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Hill took home his second consecutive Capital League Coach of the Year honor last season as he turned a perceived rebuilding year for his young team into a run for his program’s seventh state title. The Wildcats handed top seeded White River Valley its only loss of the season in the Final Four before bowing to a Thetford Academy team that captured its fourth championship in six years. He lost only one senior starter from last year squad, but it was a significant one in point guard Brendan Moodie. The sharpshooter went on a scoring run throughout the playoffs that rivals any of the all-time Wildcat greats in school history. After averaging a career-high 19 points in the regular season, Moodie exploded for 92, including 13 threes throughout the playoffs. Hill realizes it will be close to impossible to replace his point guard, but the cupboard is far from bare as he returns a seasoned core that doesn’t need directions to get back to the Barre Auditorium.
“Last season was some of the most fun I’ve ever had coaching. Everyone doubted that group and they proved a lot of people wrong. Brendan was a special player for us and will be sorely missed, but I’m really excited about our returning players and the unselfishness for which they play with,” said Hill.
Hill’s four senior captains will provide leadership this season, led by Vermont Basketball Coaches Association (VBCA) Outstanding Underclassmen selection Sully Laflam. The versatile Laflam enjoyed career-highs in points last season for the Wildcats. Morgan Michaud, Ethan Gann and Ari Jurkiewicz bring a senior toughness defensively for a Hazen team that goes into many matchups with a size disadvantage. Hill also returns a talented junior core that includes Jameson Lamarre, Lincoln Hill, Kobe Smith, Jeter Demers and Chayse Newell. Lamarre showed flashes of brilliance last season, introducing himself to the Barre Auditorium crowd with 37 combined points in the semifinals and final. Hill became a deep threat late in the season for the Wildcats and will look to stretch opposing defenses this season. Freshmen Noah Foster, Lucian Jurkiewicz and Dawson Michaud round out Hill’s roster.
“Everyone has grown physically and elevated their game coming into this season. They all have worked hard in the offseason and have improved significantly after having a great summer league. We open up the season with an improved Stowe team that clipped us last year. They have an experienced new coach, who is already improving that program. They have a really good freshman guard and should have another quality team this year,”said Hill.
Hazen will officially tip off the season next Monday at Stowe. The Raiders shocked the Wildcats late last season, winning for the first time in 13 match-ups against Hazen. The Wildcats will host the 10th Annual Dave Morse Classic (DMC) next Wednesday and will square off against arch rival Peoples Academy in the opening round. Hazen has won six consecutive DMC championships. All home games can be streamed live on Hardwick Community Television (hctv.us).
