HS BASKETBALL: Toomey named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball
May 28—For three-time, first-team all-state basketball player Ciera Toomey, it was one final high school victory.
The 6-foot-4, North Carolina-bound center was named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball in ceremonies Saturday at the Country Club of Harrisburg.
Toomey, who returned from a torn ACL to lead Dunmore to its first state title, a 42-30 win over River Valley in the Class 3A championship, claimed the award over an impressive field of five other players who totaled 13 first-team berths, including Gatorade state Player of the Year Gabby Casey of Lansdale Catholic.
"This is definitely at the top of the list because winning the player of the year in 3A, that's only for one class. To get something like this where all girls in the state are nominated, it just means a lot."
Toomey was one of 300 candidates at the start of the process, and when the field was trimmed to semifinalists and the six finalists, she was still in the chase for the award presented by Sportsrecruiters.com.
"We committed to coming to this event. I'm glad we did," Toomey said.
Other finalists for the award were Casey, a St. Joseph's commit who led her team to a state title, including a 4A semifinal win over Scranton Prep; Penn commit Abby Sharpe of Plymouth-Whitemarsh, who led her team to a 2022 state title in 6A; and Kansas State recruit Alexis Hess of Fleetwood.
Cumberland Valley junior Jill Jekot and Cedar Cliff sophomore Olivia Jones were the only underclassmen to be nominated.
"It's been really cool," Toomey said of her latest honor. "Every little award means something. Even the big ones. It just makes me so happy I chose to play this year and the season we had, winning a state championship.
"It's cool to have these to remember the season we had."
It was the 10th year the award was presented. Toomey joins J.C. Show of Abington Heights, who was
Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball in 2014, as the only District 2 recipients.
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