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.”