Hazleton Area Upsets Wilkes-Barre in Overtime to Advance to District Championship
By: Matt Flanagan | Sportzwire | February 24, 2025 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus Photograpghy
Wilkes-Barre, PA – In a thrilling overtime showdown, the Hazleton Area Cougars avenged their regular-season losses to Wilkes-Barre Area, securing a 65-55 victory in the District 2-6A semifinals on Monday night. The win propels Hazleton into Saturday’s championship game against Scranton.
The atmosphere was electric, with both student sections bringing energy to a hard-fought battle. Hazleton jumped out to an 18-13 lead in the first quarter and held a 31-21 advantage at halftime. Wilkes-Barre fought back in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 28-18 to force overtime. However, Hazleton dominated the extra period, putting up 16 points while holding Wilkes-Barre to just six.
Dylan Stish led the way for Hazleton with 23 points, including a key three-pointer. Yohansal Moran was clutch at the free-throw line, knocking down six of ten attempts on his way to 14 points. Luis Guzman and Gavin Perkosky added 12 points each to round out a balanced offensive attack.
Wilkes-Barre was led by David Jannuzzi’s 19-point effort, including a perfect 7-for-8 performance from the free-throw line. Mike Keating contributed 17 points, while Quran Brooks added seven.
Both teams struggled from the perimeter, hitting just three three-pointers each. Hazleton’s depth and defense proved to be the difference, as they outscored Wilkes-Barre in the paint and controlled the overtime period.
After losing both regular-season meetings against Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton’s resilience shined when it mattered most. They will now turn their focus to Saturday’s district championship matchup against Scranton, where they look to capture the 6A title.
