Danielle Griebel scored 14 points during a stunning fourth-quarter rally Thursday that allowed host Punxsutawney to get past Hazleton Area, 57-49, in a meeting of unbeaten girls basketball teams for the Truance Holiday Classic title.
Hazleton Area, which had reached the final on the strength of a Lacie Kringe triple-double, outscored Punxsutawney in each of the first three quarters to build a 13-point lead.
The Chucks outscored the Lady Cougars, 25-4, in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory. They hit four 3-pointers, three by Griebel, and went 9-for-12 from the line during the last eight minutes.
Griebel’s only scoring in the first three quarters was a 3-pointer in the third. She finished with 17.
Chloe Presloid scored 7 of her 12 points during the comeback.
Hazleton Area led 15-12 after one quarter behind eight points by Kringe.
Alexis Reimold scored six points and Lynzee Buglio added five in the second quarter as Hazleton Area took a 32-24 halftime lead.
Sophia Shults had five points as Hazleton Area outscored Punxsutawney, 13-8, in the third quarter.
Reimold finished with 12 points, Shultz 11 and Kringe 10.
Hazleton Area 56, Marion Center 41
Kringe scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and made 10 steals in Wednesday’s semifinal victory at Punxsutawney.
Sophia Shults added 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocked shots while Brianna Kennedy had 8 points, 6 steals and 4 assists.
Kringe had eight points each in the first and third quarters. She helped the Lady Cougars take a 14-11 lead after one quarter and stretch a 29-16 halftime lead to 45-20.
Mya Lipsie led Marion Center with 16 points, including 13 when it cut into the Hazleton Area victory margin with a 21-point fourth quarter.
