Janaya Martin’s Late Three Lifts Dunmore to 3A Championship at the Arena
By: Matt Flanagan | SportzWire | February 28, 2026 | Photo courtesy Jake Spiecher
WILKES-BARRE — With about five seconds left and everything on the line, Janaya Martin delivered the moment every kid dreams about.
Under the bright lights of the Mohegan Sun Arena, in a game that had swung back and forth all night, Dunmore trailed by one in the closing seconds of the District 2 Class 3A Girls Championship. The ball found Martin beyond the arc.
No rush. No panic.
She rose up and buried a three-pointer that sent the Dunmore crowd into a frenzy and gave the Lady Bucks a 37-35 lead — a lead they would hold as the final horn sounded seconds later.
It was a championship game in every sense.
Holy Redeemer controlled stretches early, jumping out to a 13-6 first-quarter lead and carrying a narrow advantage into halftime. Tessa Cegelka led the Royals with 11 points, while Isabella Boylan added 10. The Royals looked poised down the stretch, holding a slim edge late in the fourth quarter.
But Dunmore never folded.
Martin led the Lady Bucks with 12 points, keeping them within striking distance throughout the night before delivering the biggest shot of the season. Leena Conte added seven, Michelle Nidoh chipped in five, and the Lady Bucks leaned on their defense and composure when it mattered most.
With the Arena buzzing and the pressure mounting, Martin’s shot flipped the game in an instant.
Holy Redeemer had one final opportunity, but Dunmore’s defense stood tall, forcing a tough look as time expired. The buzzer sounded. The celebration began.
It wasn’t just about one shot — it was about belief, toughness, and a team that trusted one another in the biggest moment.
With five seconds left, Janaya Martin gave Dunmore a memory that will last forever — and the Lady Bucks walked off the Arena floor as District 2 Class 3A champions.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter / X
YouTube
