Dallas had a counter for Pittston Area’s Silvio Giardina making six 3-pointers Friday night.
The host Mountaineers got 3-pointers from six different players in the game to decide sole possession of the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 boys basketball lead.
Timely shots among the 11 baskets from beyond the arc helped Dallas open up a sizable lead, then coast to a 70-47 victory to take a one-game lead in the standings with two games to play.
Mikey Cumbo made four of the 3-pointers while scoring 14 points and Darius Wallace had a team-high 15 points to lead Dallas to its 11th straight win within the division since being upset by Wilkes-Barre Area in the opener of its attempted title defense.
Dallas, the No. 3 team in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams, now has the best overall record in the district at 18-2 after No. 1 Abington Heights lost at No. 2 Valley View Friday night.
No. 4 Pittston Area slipped to 10-2 and 14-5. The Patriots had won six straight. Since the New Year, Pittston Area is 9-0 against everyone else, but 0-2 against Dallas.
Cumbo and Cameron Faux had 3-pointers to start and end a 12-2 run to begin the second half and open a 48-23 lead. Cumbo, Faux and Jude Nocito had all hit 3-pointers during a 21-11 second quarter to give Dallas a 36-21 lead at halftime.
Faux finished with 10 points. Wallace matched him with two 3-pointers.
Giardina scored 15 of his points in the second half, hitting four 3-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter.
Matt Walter had eight points for Pittston Area, all in the first half.
Dallas has the lead, but Pittston Area has the schedule advantage.
The Mountaineers still have to play at Crestwood (11-9) and Hazleton Area (12-8) Tuesday and Thursday. Pittston Area is home with Tunkhannock (10-10) and at Wyoming Valley West (5-14).
