Hazleton Cougars

In a high-energy showdown, Hazleton Area (HAHS) overwhelmed Berwick (BHS) with an explosive offensive display, securing a dominant 16–6 victory in just five innings.

Bethlehem, PA – March 14, 2025 – The Hazleton Area Lady Cougars saw their PIAA championship hopes come to an end Friday night after a tough 63-50 loss to Perkiomen Valley in the quarterfinals. Despite a strong fourth-quarter push, Hazleton could not recover from a difficult second quarter that allowed Perkiomen Valley to take control of the game.

Hazleton Area secured a hard-fought 60-54 victory over Conestoga in the PIAA 6A state tournaments second round at Bethlehem Freedom High School. Yohansal Moran led the Cougars with 19 points, including a clutch three-pointer, while Luis Guzman added 18 to power the offense. Despite Conestogas Shane O’Brien sinking five threes en route to a game-high 24 points, Hazleton controlled the paint and held off a late rally. With the win, the Cougars move on to face District 12s No. 2 seed, Father Judge, in the state quarterfinals.

Hazletons depth and balanced scoring proved too much for Liberty, ending the Lady Canes' strong season in District 11. The Lady Cougars now turn their focus to Perkiomen Valley as they continue their journey toward a state title.

Hazleton, PA – The Hazleton Area girls’ basketball team delivered a commanding performance in the first round of the PIAA 6A state playoffs, overpowering Cheltenham 82-49 in front of a raucous home crowd on Friday night. The Lady Cougars set the tone early and never looked back, using a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense to cruise to victory.

The 2024-2025 Wyoming Valley Conference (WVC) Division 1 basketball season has concluded, and the coaches have made their selections for the All-Star teams, recognizing the most outstanding players in the league. This year's honors feature impressive performances, with standout players from Hazleton, Pittston, Crestwood, Dallas, Wyoming Valley West, Berwick, and Wilkes-Barre Area making their mark.

With the game tied just before halftime. Tony Battaglia found Jayden Burrell in the corner and Burrell hit the three at the buzzer. “It was momentum building going into half.” Said Scranton head coach Tony Battaglia. The Knights used that momentum to propel them to their fifth straight District 2 6A Championship 44-35 over Hazleton Area. Tony Battaglia had a game high 15 points and Jayden Burrell added nine.

Late in the fourth quarter, Scranton pushed Hazleton Area’s lead down to six. The Lady Cougars ended up pulling away to win the District 2 6A Girls Basketball Championship 62-47 over Scranton. Kaitlyn Bindas had a team high 18 points and Sophia Benyo added 14. “We took the press off with 5 minutes to go and we did very good.” Said Hazleton Area head coach Joe Gavio of the change he made on defense.

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.

When the first quarter came to an end, it looked like me it was going to be a possible upset for Crestwood. Hazleton Area slammed the door on the upset by only allowing six total points in the second quarter. They led 40-24 at halftime en route to a 63-51 victory to win their second consecutive Wyoming Valley Conference Championship over Crestwood. Alexis Reimold had a game high 22 points and Kaitlyn Bindas added 15 for Hazleton Area.

Hazleton Area has proven themselves as the top team in District 2 for the 2024-2025 season. Sophia Benyo had a game high 21 points and Kaitlyn Bindas added 20 as the Lady Cougars advanced to the WVC Championship with a 75-46 victory over Holy Redeemer. Hazleton Area is looking to repeat as WVC Champions.

Field hockey is where Bella truly shines. Playing for Hazleton Area High School, she has broken records, earned multiple honors, and proven herself as one of the best players in her division. As a key player on the team, Bella has accumulated an impressive 110 points, with 50 goals and 10 assists in her most recent season. Her outstanding performance led her to be named to the Pennsylvania All-State Second Team and the Wyoming Valley Conference All-Star Selection for Division 1. Her hard work didn’t stop there; Bella also earned a Keystone State Games All-Star Selection and contributed to Hazleton Area’s success with a WVC AAA Silver Medal.

Hazleton Area continued their undefeated streak with a commanding 81-39 victory over Dallas. Mariah Marolo led the Cougars with 21 points, including five three-pointers, while Alexis Reimold added 20 points, showcasing a balanced offensive attack. Despite a strong start from Dallas, led by Odessa Kanton's 13 points and Caitlyn Mizzer's 11, Hazleton's explosive second quarter sealed the game. The Cougars' relentless defense and sharp shooting propelled them to a 22-0 record, highlighting their dominance in the league.

Bindas Leads the Charge with Game-High 24 Points in Dominant Win Over Valley West At Hazleton Area, Kaitlyn Bindas scored a game-high 24 points to lead three Hazleton Area players in double figures in a win over Valley West. With the win, Hazleton Area clinches the Division 1 regular season championship. Sophia Shults contributed 18 points, showcasing aggressive drives and strong finishes, while Alexis Reimold added 14 points with sharp shooting. Despite the loss, Valley West saw standout performances from Aniyah Davis and Anya Richet, each scoring nine points.

NEPA Elite District 2 Girls Basketball Rankings (1/14/25) Big School: Scranton Prep holds the #1 spot, with Hazleton and Valley View rounding out the top three. Abington climbs to #4 after a strong week! Small School: Dunmore leads the pack at #1, followed by Holy Redeemer at #2. Lake-Lehman makes a big move to claim the #3 spot! Which team do you think will make the biggest leap next week? Drop your thoughts below! #HighSchoolBasketball #NEPAElite #District2 #GirlsHoops