April 2023 | The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

With a team deep in seasoned talent, a freshman bench player emerged as an unsung hero in the Dunmore Lady Bucks run to an unprecedented state championship.

That unlikely freshman is Jackie Brown.

Daughter of Judy and the late Carl Brown, Jackie, 15, is now expected to play a big role for the Dunmore Lady Bucks over the next three years.

Jackie stepped up in her role as a backup forward/center in the District 2 Class 3A championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre Township Saturday, March 4.

Tears flowed from the eyes of her mom watching from the stands as her daughter entered the contest and sparked a 25-1 Lady Bucks run as Dunmore defeated Holy Redeemer, 50-30, to win the District 2 Class 3A title.

“My mom always says she can’t wait for me to get on the court,” said Jackie. “Then I gave her a hug after the game and she was so happy.”

Jackie and her mom share a very close-knit relationship. Her mom is easily her biggest fan. Jackie’s dad died in 2009 when she was only one.

“Her and-one changed the entire game,” said Dunmore star senior center Ciera Toomey. Ciera spoke of Jackie’s three-point play that capped a 7-0 spurt at the end of the third quarter, turning a 29-25 deficit into a 32-29 lead in the district title game.

“And then she came down and made a better move and I just thought the momentum was with us.”

The scrappy freshman scored seven clutch points and added a key assist on a pass to Toomey in the district title win, Dunmore’s second straight and fifth in the past six seasons.

Jackie took one of Cadie Lewis’ seven assists and powered for a three-point play late in the third quarter and Holy Redeemer never recovered.

Dunmore basketball coach Carrie Bowen Toomey called Jackie “a gem in the rough.

“She turned the game around, turned the momentum. She is just going to keep getting better and better. She is just tough. And on this stage.”

Humble in nature, Jackie said she just wanted to help the team. “It’s Cadie’s, C’s (Ciera) and Ana’s (Pacewicz) last year. I wanted to help them feel that victory.”

As a freshman coming off the bench, Jackie averaged 5.3 points per game this season. She became a big contributor on a team full of standout players. Her contributions continued throughout the state playoffs.

Ciera rejected Emilee Staat’s 3-pointer with less than four minutes remaining, and Jackie turned it into the biggest basket in a late run as the Lady Bucks won for the first time in four trips to the state final, beating River Valley, 42-30, in the PIAA Class 3A girls championship game at the Hershey Giant Center Thursday, March 23.

“I went up with my left hand and blocked it,” said Ciera. “Jackie came out of nowhere, scooped it up, got it to me. A couple passes, hit her with a reverse layup and I thought that was the hammer.”

Dunmore’s lead was down to 34-28 midway through the fourth quarter, but Ciera’s two free throws, a floater in the paint from Sophia Talutto, Ciera’s block and Jackie’s finish, and another baseline bucket by Sophia upped the lead to 42-30 with 2:35 left.

Besides her clutch basket, Jackie added two rebounds as she hustled all over the hardwood in the state title win.

“It was an unreal feeling when we won,” said Jackie. “It’s just a great feeling to be state champions. We finally did it.

“It was great to be able to get into the game and be a part of it. It was a great feeling to help us get this win.”

Jackie was asked about her role in the district title win. “Our shots weren’t falling in the beginning. I was happy to help get the momentum going and kept finishing. Then our shots started to fall. I was just so happy for all of my teammates that we won.”

Jackie has a highly impressive 99.3 academic average at Dunmore. Her best academic subjects are biology and math. She is a member of the Earth Club and Spanish Club and is a catcher/third baseman as a freshman member of Dunmore’s softball team.

She has been playing in Dunmore Biddy Basketball Leagues since the fourth grade. For the past five years, Jackie has been playing AAU basketball. She plays AAU 15 and under basketball for Riverfront Elite.

The energetic, hard-working freshman said the Lady Bucks seemed to rally under first year coach Carrie Bowen Toomey. “She is a great coach and helped us get really close as a team. We clicked with her immediately.”

The scholar-athlete said she would like to work with animals and possibly become a veterinarian someday.

She talked about her relationship with her mom. “My mom gives me confidence. She keeps me positive. She tells me to never get down. She is always there for me. All the time.”

Polite and good-natured, Jackie talked about the great success of this year’s historic Dunmore team. “We are definitely all like a big family. We are very comfortable with each other. We all hang out together. We just do a lot with each other and are so connected as friends and teammates.”

Jackie now looks forward to her next three years at Dunmore.

“I have high expectations for myself next year. I want to step it up on the basketball court and help our team to keep winning.

“I love Dunmore. I would not want to live anywhere else or go to any other school. Dunmore is the best.”

By Steve Svetovich

It was a long road back, but well worth it.

Dunmore senior standout center Ciera Toomey can say that for the rest of her life.

Daughter of Patrick and Carrie Toomey, Ciera came back from a right knee ACL and meniscus tear suffered last season to lead the Dunmore Lady Bucks into the state playoffs culminating with the team’s first PIAA Class 3A title win, 42-30, over River Valley, Thursday, March 23, at the Giant Center in Hershey.

The 6-4 stalwart led the Lady Bucks with 14 points, five steals and career high 21 rebounds in the state title win.

It was even more gratifying not only to come back after months of rehabilitation from the right knee ACL and meniscus tear, but to be a part of the Lady Bucks first ever state title with her mom, Carrie Bowen Toomey, as her coach.

This was her mom’s first year as the Lady Bucks basketball coach after serving as an assistant for several years under Ben O’Brien who left to lead the University of Scranton Lady Royals. Her mom was an All-State basketball player for Dunmore and former Player of the Year. Ciera’s mom was also a basketball standout at Franklin and Marshall College. Ciera’s older sister Victoria was an all-state basketball player at Dunmore.

“Winning the state title felt so much better because I did it with my mom,” Ciera said. “Winning the title felt so good. My mom instilled a lot of confidence in us. Now she can breath a sigh of relief. We finally won it all.

“Winning the state title was surreal. I was in disbelief when the final buzzer sounded.

“It’s about time we did this. We made history. We were all really excited. Everyone had a part of it. It was just so exciting. We worked so hard for this and it was all worth it.”

Teammates Sophia Talutto and Tristan Canavan added 10 points each in the state title win.

Ciera scored 13 points in Dunmore’s 43-37 win over Lancaster Catholic in the PIAA Clas 3A semifinal win, Monday, March 20, at Martz Hall, Pottsville.

A dominant shot blocker, Ciera scored 16 points in Dunmore’s 58-19 PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal route over Lake Lehman. She scored 14 points in the second round state playoff win, 52-34, over Imhotop Charter School. Dunmore’s first round state playoff win came over Bloomsburg, 64-33.

Ciera helped lead the Lady Bucks to a fifth district title in the past six years, 50-30, over Holy Redeemer, Saturday, March 4, at Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes Barre. Ciera scored 11 points and had 10 rebounds in the district title win. Sophia Talutto led Dunmore with 21 points. Tristan Canavan had 10 rebounds and Jackie Brown scored seven clutch points off the bench.

“We had so many contributions from a lot of different players this year,” Ciera said. “Sophia Talutto is one of my best friends. She really stepped up her game and became a leader on this team. I was so happy for her success.

“Cadie Lewis played great defense and usually guarded the opposition’s best offensive threat. She played great defense. She doesn’t get enough credit for what she does. She made some big shots too.

“Tristan Canavan was very good for us all year. She played tough on both ends of the court. She hustled and gave us strong defense and scoring.

“Amanda Dempsey played a key role as a freshman both off the bench and starting. Jackie Brown became a key contributor as a freshman.

“All of my teammates really stepped it up a notch when I was out. They all had a big part in this.”

The hard-working, talented senior is also a key member of the golf team at Dunmore. She is a member of TACT, SADD, the Service Club and Art Club at Dunmore.

Well-spoken and articulate, Ciera has an impressive 3.86 grade point average at Dunmore. She was named Times-Tribune athlete of the week after the state title win.

Ciera is a member of ESPN HoopGurlz 2023 Class, ranked No. 4 nationally (No. 1 ranked Post). She was PIAA first-team basketball All-State in her sophomore and junior years and third-team All-State as a freshman.

She was named All-Regional for basketball in her sophomore and junior years.,

She was named to the Lackawanna All-League basketball teams in her first three seasons. She was the Lynett Tournament MVP in 2021.

She was on the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Award Watch List for the past three years. She was Hoop Group Summer AAU MVP in 2021 and won a League Team Title.

The strong-minded scholar/athlete said it was not easy coming back from her injury, but she persisted to get ready for the playoffs. “It took a lot of time to get back, but I slowly worked my way back on the court and gained more and more confidence. I felt better and better with each game. We didn’t want to be a runner-up this year. We wanted to win it all. I wanted to get back on the court to be a part of this team winning a state title.”

Ciera said her favorite academic subject is psychology. She will study environmental science at the University of North Carolina where she will play basketball on a scholarship.

“I am really looking forward to it,” she said. “It’s going to be a different experience. But I am ready to shift my focus on it. I am already in touch with all of my coaches and future teammates there. I can’t wait to play basketball there.”

Ciera said she will never forget her years at Dunmore and the state championship she will always cherish. “The state championship was so exciting. There is no better way to go out. This town is so special. Dunmore will always have a special place in my heart. I will be going on to the next chapter, but there is no better way to finish high school. Dunmore has been a tremendous, special experience for me.”