Basketball Recap: Hazleton Area Starts Season with Defeat on the Road

Hazleton Area had to start their season on the road on Saturday, and it wasn't the start they were hoping for. They fell 53-45 to the Liberty Hurricanes. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Cougars of the 62-51 defeat they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in January.

Despite the loss, Hazleton Area still got an impressive performance from Dylan Stish, who posted 16 points and seven boards. Another player making a difference was Kendrick Ortiz, who scored eight points.

Hazleton Area wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next matchup, a 62-53 victory against Williamsport on the 5th. As for Liberty, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next contest, a 62-50 win against Bethlehem Catholic on the 1st.