By Steve Svetovich
Dunmore junior point guard Sophia Talutto was a key member of the Lady Bucks state title team last season.
So what does she do for an encore?
With the graduation of Ciera Toomey, Sophia’s role on the team is even bigger than ever.
She has emerged as the team leader and at press time leads the Lackawanna League Division III in scoring average with a mark of 17.8 points per game.
She also leads the Lackawanna League Division III in 3-point goals with 2.9 per game and is third in free throw percentage with a .641 mark.
She scored 25 points, including five 3-point goals, in Dunmore’s 63-54 non-league win over Lake Lehman, Saturday, January 27. Her teammate Tristan Canavan added 15 points in the win which extended the Lady Bucks record to 13-3 at press time.
Daughter of Joe and Lori Talutto, Sophia, 17, is also a left wing on the soccer team at Dunmore. She is a member of TACT and treasurer of the French Club,
The junior scholar-athlete has a 98.7 academic average. Her best academic subjects are math and chemistry.
Sophia, humble but confident in nature, talked about her role on this year’s team after coming off a state championship under first year coach Carrie Bowen Toomey.
“My coach has asked me to become more of a leader this year,” she said. “I’ve taken on the bigger role as a leader, so I encourage my teammates to work hard and keep pushing. We are doing that and improving as a team with each game.
“I worked really hard in the off season. I especially worked hard to improve my 3-point shot in the off season.”
The Lady Bucks initially started slow this year, but quickly picked up the pace to a tune of a 13-3 record at press time.
“I can attribute the quick turn around to our team working extremely hard at practice,” Sophia said. “It’s a credit to our coach who gave us great confidence to pick it up. We just keep working hard at practice.”
The scrappy point guard said her parents always give her sound advice.
“They tell me to stay humble and keep working hard. They tell me hard work beats talent. Keep working hard and it will all come together.”
Sophia talked about personal goals. She sets the bar high. “I want to be selected first-team all-state,” she said, “I want to score 1,000 points. I want to help our team win the district championship and another state title. I want to continue putting in hard work at the gym and in practice.
“After graduation, I want to go to a great college and continue playing basketball. I might major in business, but I’m not sure yet. I want to graduate college and be a success with a good job.”
The well-spoken and enthusiastic junior standout enjoys listening to music in her spare time. She would like to see Bruno Mars in concert.
Sophia thinks it is very possible the Lady Bucks can make another state title run.
“Another state title is entirely possible if we keep working hard,” she said.
“It’s always the goal.”
Sophia said she loves everything about Dunmore.
“It’s just great,” she said. “I could not imagine going to school anywhere else. Everyone is so close knit here at Dunmore. We have each other’s backs.
“I would not want to go to school anywhere else. There is so much support from everyone here.”