OBSERVER Staff Report

WESTFIELD — The Randolph Lady Cardinals won the Westfield Winter Classic girls basketball tournament on Saturday, defeating Westfield by a score of 53-34. Sydney Hvizdzak, the tournament’s MVP, led Randolph with 23 points, six steals and five rebounds.

Randolph had a sizable lead early, leading 16-5 after the first quarter. As the talented backcourt, led by Hvizdzak, began to get comfortable, the lead continued to grow. The score was 29-11 in favor of Randolph at the half.

Westfield played “a poor first half plagued with turnovers,” according to Westfield coach Dave Mathews.

Westfield was playing in the championship game without its point guard, sophomore Katie Bodenmiller, who left Friday’s game with an ankle injury. Mathews described the injury as “worse than we thought when it happened,” and added it may be difficult for the young guard to play next week, as well. Losing Bodenmiller “really changed the dynamic of the whole team,” according to Mathews.

Without Bodenmiller, Westfield was no match for Randolph. Mathews said that Randolph is “just as good as last year, if not better.” Mathews acknowledged that without Bodenmiller, Randolph was “the better team” in the championship game.

Westfield was led on the night by Sophia DeMarco, who tallied 15 points, 13 rebounds, and seven steals. DeMarco was selected to the All-Tournament Team, as voted on by the coaches. The All-Tournament Team is as follows: Sydney Hvizdzak (Randolph) MVP, Kara Leeper (Randolph), Sophia DeMarco (Westfield), Nashia Duryee (Clymer), Ashley Covey (Clymer) and Olivia Smith (Dunkirk).

Clymer defeated Dunkirk in the consolation game.

Randolph 53, Westfield 34

WESTFIELD (34)

Johnston 1 0 2, Wolfe 3 1 7, Conklin 2 0 4, DeMarco 6 3 15, Carnes 1 0 2, Bane 1 0 2, Booker 1 0 2, Total 15 4 34

RANDOLPH (53)

Lockwood 2 0 4, Leeper 3 0 6, Hvizdzak 9 5 23, Kennedy 4 2 11, Waterhouse 2 0 4, Adams 2 0 5, Total 22 7 53

3 point goals: Adams 1, Kennedy 1

Randolph 16 13 16 8 — 53

Westfield 5 6 7 16 — 34