Lady Cougars Claw Past Liberty, Stay Unbeaten in State Playoff Run
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | March 11, 2025 | Photo courtesy Robert Gaetano
Pottsville, PA -- The Hazleton Lady Cougars powered past the Bethlehem Liberty Lady Canes in the second round of the PIAA 6A state playoffs with a commanding 62-48 victory. A strong offensive showing and key contributions from multiple players propelled the undefeated Cougars (27-0) into the next round.
Kaitlyn Bindas led all scorers with an impressive 19 points, including a three-pointer, while Sophia Shults added 13 points, hitting 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Sophia Benyo also made a significant impact, finishing with 12 points and a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the charity stripe.
Liberty fought hard behind Anijah Davis, who put up a heroic 18-point effort, draining four three-pointers to keep the Lady Canes competitive. Ava Kopetskie added 14 points, knocking down three triples, and Kendall Medina contributed 12 points, including one from beyond the arc.
Despite Liberty’s impressive perimeter shooting—hitting eight three-pointers as a team—the Lady Cougars’ dominance inside the arc was the difference. Hazleton connected on 24 field goals, capitalizing on high-percentage shots and strong execution in the paint.
With the win, Hazleton advances to face Perkiomen Valley, the top seed from District 1, in the next round of the state playoffs. Perkiomen Valley is coming off a dominant 73-32 win over Lebanon.
