Sophia Shults scored 18 points Saturday night as host Hazleton Area defeated Scranton, 58-37, in a District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional girls semifinal.
The start of the game was delayed more than an hour because of bus issues for Scranton on the trip to Hazleton Area.
Hazleton Area (14-8) advanced to face the winner of the last remaining semifinal in a District 2 tournament or related subregional. Williamsport (10-11) travels to Wilkes-Barre Area (18-5) Monday night to determine the other finalist for Friday’s 6 p.m. final at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The Lady Cougars reached the final by overcoming a 24-point effort by Finley Bittenbender for the Lady Knights (14-8).
Fittenbender had three of her six 3-pointers in the first quarter to account for all of Scranton’s scoring and keep the game tied, 9-9. Shults had six of the Hazleton Area points.
Lacie Kringe scored 8 of her 16 points in a 19-6 second quarter that put the Lady Cougars in front 28-15 at halftime. Brianna Kennedy added six points and Shults five in the quarter.
Bittenbender had 15 of Scranton’s 22 points in the second half, but it was not enough to cut into the deficit.
Kennedy finished with 12 points for Hazleton Area.
Hazleton Area, which is 4-2 while playing in every previous subregional final at the arena, still needs another win to reach state play because only the champion advances in Class 6A.
