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Girls 3A State Championship Recap: Dunmore 42, River Valley 30
 

Girls 3A State Championship Recap: Dunmore 42, River Valley 30

Written by: Jon K on March 26, 2023

 

 

March 23, 2023

 

Elusive State Championship Bagged by Lady Bucks

 

Dunmore 42, River Valley 30

 

by Jon K.

HERSHEY – Just wait until next year.  It’s a popular way to lessen the blow of a disappointing loss while keeping hopes sky-high for the upcoming season.  When the Dunmore Lady Bucks, led by 2000+ point scorer Tara Macciocco, dropped a heart-breaking loss to Cranberry back in 1994, “Next Year” turned out to be 17 seasons removed from their first trip to Chocolatetown.  That year, the Lady Bucks bumped into a juggernaut in Villa Maria Academy that was putting the wraps on a third consecutive state championship in 2011.  By that time, the landscape of Pennsylvania basketball had forever changed with both Philly powerhouse organizations (the Public and Catholic Leagues) participating in the PIAA playoffs.  The hashtag #NineSquareMiles would become a rallying mantra as Dunmore soon became a dominant public school hoops program during the upcoming decade.        

“Next Year” then featured its share of season-ending clashes with some of the outstanding York Catholic squads before District 12’s Neumann-Goretti would become a formidable obstacle along the path to Hershey as they won Gold in four consecutive years.  To their credit, Dunmore battled the Saints to the wire in 2015 as they got 34 points from Kayleigh Semion in a memorable, but exhausting, 64-61 loss.

The 2019 squad featured a dynamic combination in sharpshooter freshman phenom Moriah Murray and a dominant senior center in Victoria Toomey.  For the first time Dunmore got by their old nemesis, N-G, and also defeated a District 3 perennial power in Trinity, but a 15-point halftime deficit on the hardwoods of the Giant Center proved to be too much to overcome in a 49-43 state championship loss (their only one on the season) to Delone Catholic. 

As the calendar turned toward “Next Year” the whole world went into uncharted territory in 2020 as the Lady Bucks were once-again soaring after the duo of Murray and freshman newcomer Ciera Toomey combined for 55 of their 65 points in a statement win over Diamond Johnson-led Neumann-Goretti.  A day later, Covid would put a pause on the state playoffs and eventually it turned into a full season stop.  Then, in 2021, the Lack Bucks faced a District 2 Quarter-Final forfeit as Covid once again ended the Lady Bucks campaign. Fans began to wonder how many “Next Years” could this superb roster endure.

A disputed move up to the 4A classification (in which their appeal was denied) put Dunmore in the future path of yet another PCL state powerhouse, Archbishop Wood.  Yet, in 2022, before they could finish navigating through districts, adversity would impact the program as an ACL injury in the district title game ended Ciera Toomey’s season.  A last second loss to highly-regarded Jim Thorpe dashed dreams of showering their team in kisses.  On that day in Berwick, “Next Year” never felt so empty and distant.

The 2022-2023 campaign brought hopeful, but cautious optimism.  An incredible team leader had graduated, a Division 1-bound senior center was sidelined indefinitely, and a new head coach was now leading the program.  Although Ben O’Brien (who won 347 games in 14 seasons) had moved on to lead the University of Scranton Women’s program, the hiring of assistant Carrie Toomey brought program stability and passion to the team.  What else was missing?  Put the non-stop hype about possible March playoff matchups – even before December hoops began – into that bucket.  And that may have proved to be a benefit in the big picture.  The Lady Bucks were able to use the regular season to allow key players to fine-tune their game and, most importantly, develop team chemistry and individual leadership skills.  Never far away at any time was the support from Ciera Toomey.  Her in-game appearance in the annual Lynett Tournament, though more symbolic at the moment, gave fans a most-appreciated belated holiday gift, one that left them hoping that the new year could finally be “Next Year”.

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State playoff wins over Bloomsburg, Imhotep Charter, and Lake-Lehman (who defeated the Lady Bucks in OT during the regular season) by an average of almost 30 ppg, sent them to Martz Hall for a State Semi-Final matchup against perennial contender Lancaster Catholic.  On this night, after playing a full 32 minutes, the Hershey Kisses were raining down on Toomey and her teammates after a 43-37 victory, setting the stage for their fourth trip to Chocolatetown. 

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Unfinished business remained as the Lady Bucks exited their bus at the Giant Center Thursday afternoon.  There was a lot to stuff into their backpacks – foremost was trying to focus on the task at hand and enjoy the moment, but there was also tremendous appreciation for upholding the program tradition and legacy.  This has always been a team held together by community and family.  Their opponent, River Valley, likewise was also on a roll as the Panthers came out of a tradition-rich hoops district and defeated three District 7 teams on their way to Hershey. 

Ciera Toomey would immediately show her court versatility by twice finding a wide-open Tristan Canavan underneath for a pair of layups, River Valley responded both times to tie the game as they got a jumper from Ava Persichetti and a putback from Abby Pynos.  After several misses by both teams, Toomey got a layup at the 3:43 mark to give Dunmore the 6-4 lead.  After Amanda Dempsey added a free throw, Sophia Talutto hit a jumper to give the Lady Bucks a 9-4 edge approaching the one-minute mark.  Hannah Artley would score before Dempsey thrilled the Dunmore faithful with a steal in the closing moments and full court drive to the basket getting the layup as the horned sounded for an 11-6 lead.    

River Valley came out of the huddle playing terrific defense.  A score in the lane by Persichetti and a pair of free throws by the 5-10 sophomore guard were wrapped around a step-back jumper by Toomey.  Persichetti would then get a steal and layup as River Valley cut it to a one point game, 13-12 with 5 minutes left in the first half.  After Dunmore missed a pair of free throws, the Panthers’ momentum came to a screeching halt at the 3:30 mark when the go-ahead score (plus potential “and 1” foul) by Persichetti was waved off.  While it’s impossible to point to any single turning point in a game, emotionally this call certainly lifted the Dunmore spirits as the Lady Bucks finished the fist half on a 8-2 run.  Canavan got a layup off a loose ball.  Toomey got a drive to the basket following a River Valley turnover.  Talutto then added a jumper and Toomey got a putback at the 1:16 mark to give Dunmore a 21-12 lead.  Persichetti added a pair of free throws giving her 10 points in the first half.  The opening 16 minutes also featured 12 rebounds from Toomey.  Despite the Panthers being in good position on many caroms, the 6-4 Dunmore center was able to out-reach them repeatedly without getting into foul trouble as they took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.    

Dunmore began the second half on a 6-2 spurt and taking a double-digit lead.  Canavan connected on a corner shot before Rylee Kitner converted a pair of free throws for River Valley making it 23-16.  Another strong move to the bucket by Toomey was followed by an inside score by Canavan (via another nifty feed from Toomey) for a 27-16 advantage at the 6:14 mark.  The Panthers would then put together a quick 7-0 run as they got a free throw from Kitner plus back-to-back treys by Emily Staats and Persichetti to cut the deficit to 27-23.  River Valley then missed an off-balance triple before Toomey got a putback followed by a pair of free throws by Talutto.  Persichetti continued her fine effort with an inside score before Cadie Lewis connected on a clutch triple giving Dunmore a 34-25 lead that they would take into the final stanza.

River Valley got a triple by Persichetti off a Dunmore miss cutting it to 34-28 with 7:15 remaining in the game.  The Lady Bucks would then go a game-clinching 8-0 run over the next 5 minutes.  It began with a pair of Toomey free throws and a floater by Talutto.  It continued at the 3:46 mark with a Toomey block that resulted in a reverse layup by Jaclyn Brown off a Talutto feed sending the crowd to their feet.  It ended with another floater by Talutto for a 42-28 lead with 2:31 left.  The early celebration was beginning as Kitner competed the game-scoring.  Dunmore went on to win their first State Championship, 42-30.

Dunmore was led by UNC-bound Ciera Toomey with 14 points and 21 rebounds.  Sophia Talutto and Tristan Canavan each netted 10 points.  Cadie Lewis, Amanda Dempsey, and Jacyln Brown combined for 8 points.  They hit 5 of 10 free throws and converted one triple.

River Valley was paced by Ava Persichetti with 18 points.  Rylee Kitner, Emily Staats, Abby Pynos, and Hannah Artley combined for 12 points.  The Panthers hit 5 of 6 free throws and connected on 3 triples.

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State Championship appearances are a rare occurrence for District 2 teams.  And bringing home the Gold medals is a moment shared by all.  LLHoops was honored to have been along for the ride.  We’ll bid farewell to “Next Year” as it disappears in the rearview mirror.  Business finished.

#NineSquareMiles

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