Hazleton Area girls basketball team advances to WVC tournament final

Cougars pull away in second half to defeat Holy Redeemer and set up championship rematch with Crestwood

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Hazleton Area girls basketball team defeated Holy Redeemer 78-51 in the Wyoming Valley Conference tournament semifinals on Wednesday. The Cougars trailed by three at halftime but used a 14-0 run to start the third quarter to pull away. Hazleton Area will face Crestwood in the tournament final on Saturday, a rematch of last year's championship game.

Why it matters

The Hazleton Area-Crestwood matchup is a highly anticipated rematch of last year's WVC title game. Both teams have been among the top programs in the conference for several seasons, and the winner will claim the 2026 WVC championship.

The details

After a close first half that saw Holy Redeemer trail by just three points at the break, Hazleton Area turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter. The Cougars forced nine Royals turnovers in the period, sparking a 14-0 run that gave them a comfortable lead they would not relinquish. Hazleton Area's size and speed eventually wore down Holy Redeemer, with Kaitlyn Bindas scoring a game-high 29 points and Alexis Reimold adding 16.

  • The WVC tournament championship game will be played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.

The players

Hazleton Area

The Hazleton Area girls basketball team is one of the top programs in the Wyoming Valley Conference, having won the league title last season.

Crestwood

Crestwood is Hazleton Area's opponent in the WVC tournament final, a rematch of last year's championship game.

Kaitlyn Bindas

Hazleton Area's leading scorer, pouring in a game-high 29 points in the semifinal win.

Alexis Reimold

A key contributor for Hazleton Area, scoring 16 points in the victory over Holy Redeemer.

Bella Boylan

Holy Redeemer's top scorer, tallying 18 of her 20 points in the first half to keep the Royals close.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We tried to go too fast. Redeemer had nothing to lose, they did a heck of a job. We switched our press in the second half and got a little run. Once we get a run, we are a different team.”

— Joe Gavio, Hazleton Area head coach (citizensvoice.com)

“Our girls played hard the whole game. No matter what happened, Hazleton Area just kept coming. We ran out of steam.”

— John Jezorwski, Holy Redeemer head coach (citizensvoice.com)

What’s next

The WVC tournament championship game between Hazleton Area and Crestwood will be played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 3 p.m. at Hazleton Area High School.

The takeaway

Hazleton Area's depth, size, and defensive pressure eventually wore down a scrappy Holy Redeemer team, setting up a highly anticipated rematch in the WVC title game against Crestwood. The Cougars' ability to make adjustments and go on decisive runs has been a hallmark of their success this season.