The Hazleton Area girls’ basketball team showcased a commanding performance in their season opener, defeating Wyomissing 66-21 during the Lady Cougar Tip-off Tournament held on December 1, 2023, at Hughie McGeehan Gymnasium. The Lady Cougars built an impressive 32-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, demonstrating their dominance from the outset.
Key contributions came from Kaitlyn Bindas, who scored eight points, alongside Mariah Marolo and Sophia Benyo, who each added seven points. The Lady Cougars’ aggressive defense translated into multiple steals, allowing them to convert turnovers into easy baskets. By the time Wyomissing’s Lily Paolini netted her team’s first points with a layup at the 4:24 mark of the second quarter, the score had already ballooned to 42-0.
With a commanding lead, Hazleton Area head coach Joe Gavio took the opportunity to rotate his bench, allowing many players to gain valuable experience. The game entered the second half with the Lady Cougars leading 52-5, triggering the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s mercy rule, which established a running clock for the remainder of the game.
Despite this, Wyomissing outscored Hazleton Area 15-4 in the third quarter, as Gavio continued to shuffle players throughout the match. Freshman Molly Temchatin shone brightly in her varsity debut, leading all scorers with 13 points. Bindas added ten points to inch closer to her career milestone of 1,000 points, while both Marolo and Benyo contributed nine points. Alexis Reimold chipped in eight points, showcasing the depth of Hazleton Area’s roster, with eleven of the 17 players scoring at least two points.
On the other side, Addie Loeb led the Lady Spartans with 12 points, including four three-pointers.
Looking ahead, the Lady Cougars are set to face Nazareth in the tournament title game on Saturday night. In a preliminary matchup, Nazareth secured a victory over Lake-Lehman, leading 22-6 at halftime and ultimately winning the game. Karly Leszcynski and Alexis Davis played pivotal roles for Nazareth, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively, ensuring their team’s advancement.
The consolation game between Lake-Lehman and Wyomissing is scheduled to start at 18:00, followed by the Lady Cougars’ championship contest against Nazareth at approximately 19:15.
As the season progresses, Hazleton Area’s strong start signals their potential for a successful campaign, with contributions from both seasoned players and newcomers alike.
