Honesdale's girls varsity basketball team is off to a solid start in 2023-24
HONESDALE — After suffering through a disappointing injury-plagued campaign in 2022-23, a sense of excitement is already swirling around the Honesdale girls varsity basketball team this winter.
With Hall of Fame head coach Ron Rowe once again at the helm, a young Lady Hornet squad is turning heads in early season action.
The Red & Black split their first four non-league games on the road before finally hosting their home opener Monday night against perennial Class AAA powerhouse Dunmore.
A big raucous crowd packed the Red Palace to witness a highly entertaining Lackawanna League contest that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter.
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Sadly for hometown fans, Dunmore was able to parlay deadly perimeter shooting and physical low post play into a 51-45 decision.
Despite the loss which dropped his team’s record to 2-3, Coach Rowe remains optimistic about the season.
“We’re definitely heading in the right direction,” the veteran skipper said. “I’m very pleased with what I’m seeing overall. If we keep working hard and take a little better care of the basketball, we’ll be able to compete with just about anybody.”
Weather permitting, Honesdale will be back on the hardwood next Tuesday evening versus Wallenpaupack Area at the Jaycees Holiday Tournament.
Opening tip is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. in the high school gym.
Off to a solid start
Honesdale opened up its 2023-24 regular season on the road at the Mike Duda Invitational Tournament.
The event was held December 2-5 at Wyoming Valley West and also featured West Scranton and Dallas.
The Lady Hornets put together a solid effort in their first game of the season against the host Valley West squad.
Natalie Goldstein scored a game-high 17 points, while Ruby Martin (16) and Elyse Montgomery (13) also cracked double digits. Despite this three-pronged attack, the Red & Black came out on the short end of a 53-48 final.
Honesdale then faced off against West Scranton in the consolation game.
Martin put on a long-distance shooting exhibition in this one. The sophomore guard rattled the rims for 19 points including five treys. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Tournament Team.
“Ruby is a very good all-around player,” said Coach Rowe. “She’s an excellent athlete who has an outstanding work ethic.”
Natalie Goldstein contributed 15 to the cause as the Lady Hornets cruised to an impressive 55-35 win over the Invaders.
Next up for Honesdale was a trip to Lakeland for a clash with the Chiefs. There, the Red & Black used a combination of relentless defense and dominant rebounding to post a 37-29 win.
Natalie Goldstein led the way, tickling the twine for 22 points on the strength of nine field goals and a perfect 4-for-4 stint at the free throw line.
“Natalie works hard on her game all year long,” Coach Rowe said. “She has become a multi-dimensional threat on offense who’s really tough to defend.”
After winning two of its first three outings, Honesdale traveled to Nanticoke for a stern early season test against the Trojans.
The Lady Hornets got off to stellar start, battling their hosts to a 12-12 stalemate after one period. However, foul trouble reared its ugly head in the second leading to a 29-19 deficit at halftime.
Natalie Goldstein once again paced a balanced offensive attack, finishing with a team-best 15 points. It wasn’t enough, though, as Nanticoke rolled to a 64-38 victory.
Red, black and blue
Honesdale made its long-awaited home debut Monday night against Dunmore.
Each team hit the floor with a 2-2 record. The Bucks had defeated Western Wayne and Mount Carmel and suffered losses at the hands of Conestoga and Allentown Central Catholic.
Dunmore eased out to a 15-11 lead in this one, thanks largely to the torrid shooting of Amanda Dempsey. The sophomore guard drained three deep treys in the opening stanza, then knocked down three more in the second.
Dempsey would close out her night with a game-high 20 points.
“When one kid hits six treys in the first half, well that’s tough to make up,” Coach Rowe said. “But we changed up our defense and the girls really handled that well.”
Karsyn Kromko ignited the defensive fire. A scrappy sophomore guard, Kromko disrupted Dunmore’s offensive flow all game long before leaving the game with an injury.
Fortunately, post game reports have been optimistic, and it looks like Kromko won’t be missing significant time.
“I give Karsyn all the credit in the world,” Coach Rowe said. “She’s one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. Karsyn did a tremendous job on their point guard.”
Honesdale battled right down to the final buzzer. Montgomery tallied 15 points and Natalie Goldstein added 13, but Dunmore held on for a 51-45 win.
Veteran leadership
While Honesdale starts four talented sophomores, a pair of seasoned veterans provide leadership on and off the court.
Elyse Montgomery and Gillian Goldstein are both seniors and each brings a unique skill set to the table.
Montgomery is a versatile athlete who can run the floor in transition, play with her back to the basket and score on the perimeter.
“Elyse is a very vocal leader and just a great kid,” Coach Rowe said. “She’s a smart player who sees the floor extremely well.
Goldstein is an unselfish player who always hustles on defense and can knock down the mid-range jumper.
“Gillian has been a pleasant surprise as a leader,” Coach Rowe said. “She understands her role and plays within herself.”
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale girls basketball team has local fans excited
