With his team trailing by 10 points heading into the final quarter of Tuesday night's Section Three Class C quarterfinal game against Pulaski, Cooperstown girls basketball coach Frank Miosek challenged his team.

"They looked defeated, so I asked them if they were going to do anything about it or just let the season end," Miosek said after the game. "Finally, Dana said `We're going to get it done."'

Dana, of course, is Cooperstown senior Dana Leonard, who scored nine of her team-high 19 points in the final quarter while also holding Pulaski's Tricia Hax, who had scored 30 points through the first three quarters, scoreless for the entire final quarter.

"I told them, if we're going to lose, we're going to lose playing man-to-man defense and giving it all we had," Miosek added.

The Lady Redskins responded by scoring a whopping 29 points in the final frame, including the first nine, and winning 59-50.

"She (Hax) was making so many shots that I think we were really frustrated," Leonard said after the game. "I started thinking `Wow this might be it' but as soon as we scored the first couple of baskets in the fourth quarter we really got the momentum back. I just tried to deny her the ball, because once she got it she was almost unstoppable."

Cooperstown, 18-4 and the fourth seed, advances to this weekend's semifinal game against top seed West Canada, who defeated Herkimer Tuesday night. The game will be played either Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.

CCS held a 24-22 halftime advantage, but Pulaski's Hax began the third quarter like a player possessed, scoring her team's first 13 points, including a long three-pointer and two old fashioned three-point plays as the Blue Devils went on a 14-2 run to take a 38-26 lead late in the third quarter.

"She's probably the best player we've seen all year," Miosek said of the junior guard.

Hax picked up her fourth foul with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and went to the bench. With her sitting out, Cooperstown quickly made its move to get back into the game.

The Lady Redskins scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter, including six from sophomore center Samantha Fox (15 points) to pull within 40-39. Fox added 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in the win.

For the next several minutes, the teams traded baskets, with sophomore guard Lindsay Potrikus providing a huge spark with several shots from the corner at clutch times.

Potrikus, who had never scored in double figures before, hit 8-10 shots and finished with a career-high 16 points.

"She had ice water running through her veins," Miosek said. "I always tell the girls if they're open to take the shots, and tonight Lindsay was really knocking them down."

With just over three minutes remaining and Pulaski holding a three-point lead, Leonard swished a three-point shot to tie the game, and Potrikus followed with two straight 15-footers from the corner to give Cooperstown a 50-49 lead with 1:45 remaining.

After Hax missed a long three-pointer, Fox scored on an offensive rebound, and sophomore Jen Wehner and senior Merritt Schifano added clutch foul shots in the final minute as Cooperstown pulled away.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Miosek repeatedly pumped his fist triumphantly.

"This is the best comeback win I've ever been a part of as a basketball coach," Miosek said. "Everyone contributed in some way, and the fans were great, this was a really memorable win."

With the 19 points, Leonard now has 1,081 career points, just seven away from breaking the girls school record of 1,087 held by Dawn Berry.

The Lady Redskins advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal game with a 69-50 victory over Sandy Creek, also at Bursey gymnasium, on Saturday afternoon.

Leonard had 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to help Cooperstown erase a five-point first quarter deficit and slowly pull away. Leonard scored off the opening tip, but Sandy Creek scored the next 10 points to take a 10-2 lead.

Trailing 18-13 entering the second quarter, Cooperstown scored the next eight points, taking the lead for good when Fox scored off an assist from Leonard.

The Lady Redskins' size wore down Sandy Creek, the 13th seed, as Fox finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Wehner 10 points and 10 boards.

Note: Sophomore guard Katie Cring was called up to the varsity before Saturday's game, and scored the first four points of her varsity career in about 10 minutes of action.