Agape Freedom Sports LLC

Written By: Jeric Yurkanin

Final: Dunmore 57, Valley View 44

Tonight inside the Dunmore gym — with a loud, early-season crowd packed in for a December showdown — we got everything you want in a girls basketball opener: defensive grit, momentum swings, young talent stepping into the spotlight, and a Dunmore team announcing loud and clear:

“We may be young… but we’re here to win.”

From the opening whistle, the Lady Bucks didn’t just defend —

they swarmed.

They boxed out with force.

They clogged driving lanes.

They jumped passing lanes like they were reading plays before they happened.

Every Valley View possession felt like pressure came built-in. Every look was contested. Every rebound was a fight.

Valley View hung tough through effort and hustle, keeping the game within reach heading into halftime — but Dunmore’s defensive identity sent them into the break up 28–21.

THE THIRD-QUARTER TURNING POINT

Here’s where the gym cracked open:

Valley View came roaring back, tied it 33–33, and suddenly the Cougars had all the momentum. You could feel the shift. You could feel the “uh-oh” moment.

But Dunmore didn’t blink.

They answered with poise.

They answered with toughness.

They answered like a team far older than their roster suggests.

“We took a breath and focused on our defense. We stopped doing one-pass, one-shot possessions and got back to what we needed to do to win.”

— Dunmore Head Coach, Carrie Toomey

A quick run out of the tie put the Bucks back in control, silenced the surge, and Dunmore never let the door open again.

That wasn’t luck.

That was a young team playing like veterans.

The most impressive part?

Dunmore did this with freshmen and sophomores playing fearlessly.

Freshman twins Janessa and Janaya Martin, along with freshman Ava Walsh, all saw meaningful minutes and delivered.

Sophomore Michelle Nidoh added 4 points, battled in the paint, and won tough rebounds all night.

This isn’t your standard “young team.”

This is a young-but-dangerous team.

DUNMORE IMPACT PLAYERS

• Jackie Brown — 13 points

Steady, confident, and clutch when the Bucks needed buckets.

• Janaya Martin (Freshman) — 9 points

Smooth, fearless, and efficient. She attacked, knocked down shots, moved without the ball, and played way beyond her grade level in her varsity debut.

• Amanda Dempsey — 10 points

The senior presence who kept the offense organized and calm through momentum swings.

VALLEY VIEW STANDOUTS

Valley View battled with heart and toughness all night.

• Cora Castellani — 13 points

A sparkplug who kept Valley View alive with her intensity, scoring, and relentless motor.

• Sadie Cardoni — 11 points

A strong interior presence who fought for every bucket and every rebound.

The Cougars competed to the end — and once their offense clicks, they’re going to be a handful for anyone in District 2.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP MEETS FRESHMAN FIRE

Tonight was the perfect blend for Dunmore.

Senior Amanda Dempsey + the Martin twins + a deep rotation

a recipe that wins games in December… and even bigger ones in February and March.

Dempsey kept the ship steady.

The freshmen kept the energy high.

The defense kept Valley View uncomfortable all night.

That’s how you build something special.

FINAL TAKEAWAY

Dunmore may look young on paper — but on the court, they played disciplined, mature, and hungry. Their defense dictated the pace, their youth injected life, and their veterans sealed the deal.

After the game, Coach Toomey summed it up perfectly:

“This was a big win. We honestly didn’t know what to expect with so many new faces. We lost Sophie Talutto from last year — she was a huge part of our lineup — so we needed to find those points from our freshmen and our returners. We played well today, and I think we’re just scratching the surface.”

If this is the version of Dunmore we get in Week 1?

NEPA… take notice.

This team isn’t waiting for the future —

the future just checked in early.

Thanks to our winter Sponsor, Wyoming Valley Clutch. Thanks for supporting youth sports in NEPA: