Callejas and Burrier Lead Crusaders to Third Straight District Title

Posted on March 6, 2019 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Caleb Callejas and Kieran Burrier combined for 24 points to lead the Holy Cross Crusaders to its third straight District 2 Class AA title, 46-25, over Northwest Saturday, March 2.

Callejas scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and Burrier added 11 points and three steals in the district title game played at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

It was the seventh district championship for Holy Cross (20-5) coached by veteran Al Callejas.

The Crusaders enter the PIAA state playoffs for a 12th straight season and will face Bloomsburg, the third place team from District 4.

Northwest got off to a slow start scoring only four points in the first quarter against a tough Holy Cross defense. And those four points came in the first two minutes of the game.

The Crusaders got hot towards the end of the first quarter. Callejas hit two clutch 3-pointers as Holy Cross scored the final 11 points of the first quarter building a 13-4 lead. The Crusaders never looked back.

Crusader basketball team at Mohegan Sun press conference(Photo Credit: Holy Cross High School Facebook Page)

Burrier then took charge in the second quarter. He scored five of his 11 points. Tyler Mozeleski added added four more points for the Crusaders as Holy Cross built a 22-10 advantage.

Callejas hit on a jump shot and another 3-pointer in the third quarter as the Crusaders built a nice 27-10 lead.

Shortly after, Callejas hit two free throws and Leahy O’Connor and Burrier both scored as the Crusaders lead grew to 33-11 with four minutes left.

The Crusaders forced six turnovers in the third quarter while allowing only one field goal. Walker Yaple led Northwest (15-10) with 10 points. The Crusaders’ Tommy Montefour added six points, including a lay-up and tip-in at the buzzer to end the third quarter.

Holy Cross easily defeated Lackawanna Trail, 55-28, in the district semifinal contest at the Insalaco Arena at Marywood University Saturday, February 23.

Mozeleski had a huge game scoring 16 points and O’Connor added 12 to lead the Crusaders in the district semifinal win over Trail.

The multi talented Montefour added seven points, hauled down six rebounds and had three steals in the semifinal win.

The scrappy Burrier had six points and five assists. James Calciano added six points on two 3-pointers. Patrick Bennie added five points for the Crusaders.

Defense was the name of the game for Holy Cross as the Crusaders did not allow one player from Trail to score in double figures. Richard Helbing led Lackawanna Trail with nine points.

Moriah Murray Making Huge Impact as Freshman

Posted on February 6, 2019 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

With all of the great basketball players in the area, who would ever think the leading scorer in Lackawanna League Girls’ Division III would be a freshman? But she is.

And she is also the leader in free throw percentage (.881) and 3-point shooting (2.8 per game).

Dunmore freshman Moriah Murray leads Lackawanna League Division III with an average of 16.9 points per game.

And it’s a sure bet the local basketball scene will be hearing her name for the next several years.

Daughter of Joseph Murray and Lynn Plotkin, Moriah said she has been playing basketball ever since she remembers learning to walk and run.

Only 15, the talented freshman said she has been playing in AAU travel basketball leagues “all of my life.”

With her team 15-0 (7-0 in the division) at press time, Moriah made an immediate impact on an already strong team under Dunmore veteran coach Ben O’Brien.

“Coach O’Brien taught me to just be myself,” said Moriah. “He told me to never be nervous. Just relax.”

Likewise, the Dunmore freshman guard said her parents teach her the same. “My parents always tell me to be myself and everything will be okay.”

Moriah, who often plays point guard, also averages about four assists per game. A pin point 3-point shooter, she takes pride in excelling at the foul line.

“That comes with practice,” she said.

Moriah currently plays AAU basketball for J.B. Hoops.

“AAU basketball has been a great experience for me,” she said. “But playing for Dunmore on the high school level is a whole different ball game.”

Versatile and hard working, Moriah also is a shortstop-pitcher as a softball player. She has a 91 academic average and is a member of the French Club at Dunmore High School. Her favorite academic subject is math.

Moriah said her freshman year at Dunmore could not be going any better. “I love Dunmore. It has been a great experience so far. I love playing basketball here. Dunmore is such a great community.”

Moriah talked about the success of the team. “We are successful because we trust each other. We have been playing with each other our whole lives. We played three-on-three, biddy basketball and AAU together. Our whole lives we have been together.”

The sharp shooting guard said she enjoys music and would like to see Travis Scott in concert.

Moriah said one of her goals is to play college basketball.

Her immediate goals? “That would be to keep getting better one game at a time. We just want to keep getting better and go as far as we can. We can really get it all together if we do that.”

And the simple reason for her own success as a starting freshman guard on the best girls’ basketball team in the area?

“Practice a lot.”

Victoria Toomey is a Leader on Court for Dunmore Lady Bucks

Posted on February 6, 2019 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

She was the Lackawanna League girls’ Player of the Year last season and Lynett Tournament MVP for a second consecutive season.

That’s Dunmore Lady Bucks center-forward Victoria Toomey who is savoring her senior season to the fullest.

Daughter of Pat and Carrie Toomey, her mom, the former Carrie Bowen, was a basketball standout at Dunmore High School and Franklin and Marshall College. Victoria’s mom is a member of the Northeast PA Sports Hall of Fame.

“My parents taught me to work hard,” Victoria said. “They teach me that if you work hard, anything can happen.”

The senior center-forward is fifth in Lackawanna League Division III in scoring with an average of 13.9 points per game and fifth in free throw percentage (.727). She averages over eight rebounds per game.

She earned her second consecutive Lynett Tournament MVP after the Lady Bucks easily defeated Holy Cross for another title.

Her reaction to being named MVP of the tournament?

“I was so happy. I just have to hand it to all of my teammates who gave me the opportunity. It was a great team effort and it could not have happened without all of them.”

She averaged close to 17 points a game and over eight rebounds last season when she was named Player of the Year.

Victoria already has a scholarship in place for next fall when she will play basketball and begin studies at Rider University in New Jersey. She will study sports management with a concentration in business.

Humble, but spirited in nature, Victoria credits her coach Ben O’Brien for much of her success. “I have learned a lot from him. Just so much.

“He teaches us to work hard and take nothing for granted. He teaches us to always play together as teammates and to communicate.”

The scholar-athlete has a 95 academic average. Her best academic subject is history. She is a member of SADD, TACT, the Earth Club, Spanish Club and Art Club.

basketball With her team undefeated with a 15-0 record (7-0 in the division), she talked about the team’s outlook for the rest of the season.

“We are very happy with our season so far, but not content. We want to keep pushing and go for a state title. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Victoria talked about the great success of the Lady Bucks.

“It’s all about chemistry and knowing each other. It helps that we are all close friends. We have been playing together for so long. Most of us have been playing together since the fourth grade.

“I’m very lucky to be playing basketball at Dunmore. We are very thankful for all of the people who come to our games.”

Victoria said she is looking forward to playing basketball at Rider University and studying sports management. She would like to become a professional sports agent.

Victoria is a four-year member and three-year starter at Dunmore. She was an all-star selection as a sophomore and junior and All Regional in her junior year.

She has 1,040 career points at press time. Victoria scored her milestone 1,000th career point in a recent win last month against Mid Valley.

“Dunmore High School has been such a great experience for me. It is crazy to think four years have gone by and I am a senior. It has been so awesome here. Every game is so special. I am enjoying every moment.”