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District 2 Girls Recap (WVC Title Game: Hazleton Area vs. Lake-Lehman)
 

District 2 Girls Recap (WVC Title Game: Hazleton Area vs. Lake-Lehman)

Written by: Jon K on February 18, 2024

 

 

February 17, 2024

 

Lady Cougars Win First WVC Championship

 

Hazleton Area 64, Lake-Lehman 33

 

HAZLE TOWNSHIP – Spurred on by their impressive semi-final win over Division 2 champion Holy Redeemer, Hazleton Area got back to basics Saturday afternoon.  The Lady Cougars erased an early deficit and used a 17-0 run to grab the lead and never look back as they clinched their first-ever Wyoming Valley Conference Girls Championship, 64-33, over Lake-Lehman.  Their defense repeatedly disrupted the Black Knights and got their offense rolling as they used outstanding ball movement to get to the ball to the basket.  Kaitlyn Bindas led three players in double figures with 22 points as the talented freshman connected on 4 triples. 

Both teams were a little shaky off the opening tip.  Ella Wilson got Lake-Lehman on the board at the 5:59 mark with a 3-point play.  Bindas got her first triple of the contest to tie things up, but the Black Knights then netted back-to-back treys by Delcia Biscotto and Wilson to go up 9-3 with three minutes remaining in the period.  A Bindas floater would be the start of a 17-0 run.  Sophia Benyo and Sohpia Shults scored to tie it up at 9 followed by a feed from Bindas into Benyo to give HA their first lead 11-9.  A pair of steals by Hazleton Area in the final half-minute of the quarter, their first by Alexis Reimold and the second by Bindas, were critical as they gave the Lady Cougars a ton of confidence and a 15-9 lead heading into the next frame.

The Lady Cougars defense continue to rattle L-L as turnovers continued to mount.  A layup and triple for Bindas expanded their lesd to 20-9.  Brenna Hunt finally stopped the HA run, but only temporarily as Hazleton Area would finish the period on another 19-8 advantage.  Sophia Shults was effective all over the floor, twice penetrating to the basket and then stepping outside to make a triple.  Hazleton Area had the tempo to their liking and used terrific ball movement to get it inside (Bindas into Benyo followed by Benyo getting it into Kayla Lagowy).  The Lady Cougars capped off a 9-0 spurt to end first half action with anther Bindas triple followed by a beautiful passing sequence down court in the final seconds that resulted in an Olivia Williams layup as HA took a 39-17 lead in intermission.

Things didn’t get any better for the Black Knights in the thirst frame as the Lady Cougars’ lead eclipsed the 30-point plateau at the 3:13 mark sending the clock into the mercy rule.  HA got going with a pair of scores by Benyo wrapped around an inside basket by Lagowy.  Lake-Lehman cut it to 45-22 as Wilson got a 3-point play followed by free throws by Hunt, but another triple by Bindas and putback by Reimold later gave the Lady Cougars a 55-24 lead.  The period ended with a jumper by Williams and 3-point play by Wilson as Hazleton Area had a 57-31 advantage.

Substitutions were plentiful in the final stanza as both teams made sure that everyone got some memory of playing in a conference championship game.  Hazleton Area went on to secure the 64-33 victory, their first Wyoming Valley Conference Championship (which has been around since 2019).

Kaitlyn Bindas led Hazleton Area with 22 points while Sophia Benyo and Sophia Shults each added 12 points.  Olivia Williams, Kayla Lagowy, Alexis Reimold, Sofia Rogers, and Miranda Chulela combined to contribute 18 points.  The Lady Cougars hit 5 triples and were 1 of 1 from the free throw line.

Lake-Lehman was paced by Ella Wilson with 16 points while Brenna Hunt added 8 points.  Delcia Biscotto, Kathryn Morgan, and Morgan Breslford contributed 9 points.  The Black Knights netted 2 treys and made 11 of 13 opportunities from the charity stripe.

Both teams will advance to the District 2 playoffs.  Hazleton Area (21-4) is the top 6A seed in the subregional with District 4.  The Lady Cougars get a first round bye and  will take on the winner between 5-Delaware Valley and 4-Wilkes-Barre Area on Thursday.  Lake-Lehman (15-9) is the #5 seed in the 3A playoffs and will travel to play 4-Elk Lake on Tuesday.      

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