Hazleton Downs Unbeaten Dallas Behind Bindas’ 28
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | January 8, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
In a highly anticipated WVC showdown at Dallas, SportzWire’s No. 1-ranked Hazleton Area Lady Cougars handed the No. 3 Lady Mountaineers their first loss of the season, pulling away for a 69–52 victory in a game that was aggressive and chippy from the opening tip.
The first half was a grind, with both teams earning everything they got. Hazleton stayed composed behind SportzWire Broadcast Player of the Game Kait Bindas, who delivered a game-high 28 points, knocking down four triples and consistently stopping Dallas momentum swings.
Hazleton’s balance showed clearly in the book:
• Kait Bindas – 28 points (4 threes)
• Mariah Marolo – 15 points
• Alexis Reimold – 11 points
Dallas refused to fold on its home floor and was paced by Molly Walsh, who poured in 27 points in defeat and went 10-for-16 from the free-throw line, attacking the rim and drawing contact all night.
She was joined by:
• Caitlyn Mizzer – 15 points
• Malaysia Shaw – 3 points
Hazleton’s execution and pace after halftime created the separation, turning a tight contest into a controlled close-out as the Lady Cougars showed why they sit atop the SportzWire rankings.
With the win, Hazleton improves to 11–1 overall and 4–0 in league play, while Dallas slips to 11–1. The Lady Mountaineers will look to rebound Saturday at home against Berwick, while Hazleton gears up for a challenging road trip to Coatesville.
