Martin and Kromko lead Honesdale girls basketball team to Jaycees title

HONESDALE — Ruby Martin and Karsyn Kromko provided a potent 1-2 offensive punch as Honesdale rallied for a wild win over archrival Wallenpaupack Area in the championship game of the 2025 Jaycees Holiday Tournament.

Martin powered her way to a game-high 17 points en route to MVP honors, while Kromko ran the offense flawlessly and was named to the All-Tournament team.

Thanks in large part to their stellar play, the Hornets posted a 45-39 win at the 40^th annual event.

“This was a very high intensity game,” said an emotionally drained coach Joe Reno. “Two good teams just going at it. It was like an old school heavyweight fight. It was such a great atmosphere with the packed gym.”

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With the win, Honesdale improved its overall record to 7-2. Weather permitting, the Hornets open up their Lackawanna League season Jan. 2 on the road at Lakeland.

Opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Defending the crown

Honesdale entered this year’s Jaycees Tournament having won a record 18 championships, including the 2024 crown.

The Hornets opened their latest title defense with a 55-30 win over Forest City in Saturday’s semifinals. Martin paced the Red & Black attack, rattling the rims for 19 points. She was aided and abetted by Lily Murray who tallied 13.

Paupack took care of business on the other side of the bracket, defeating Western Wayne by a score of 50-30. Fiona Shanaberger led the way, tickling the twine for 11 points.

This set the stage for a much-anticipated showdown between longtime rivals who have accounted for 32 Jaycees Tournament title between them. Not surprisingly, the high school gym was packed to the rafters and the atmosphere crackling with electricity.

Honesdale edged its way to a 10-7 lead after one, but Paupack surged back to grab an 18-15 advantage at intermission. Lily Mancino led the way, scoring 7 of her team-best 15 points in the opening two stanzas.

The Hornets re-grouped at halftime though, seizing a 32-30 edge after three. Martin made her presence felt in the paint and on the perimeter. She knocked down a pair of clutch treys, while also grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking a pair of shots.

“Ruby is such a tough player,” Reno said. “She has really stepped into a leadership role for us. Ruby is very confident in her ability to make plays. She continues to improve every day and has such a strong desire to win.”

Kromko was every bit as impressive. The senior guard set the tone defensively while also tallying 8 points, handing out 9 assists and snagging 3 steals.

“Karsyn is such a great floor leader,” Reno said. “She’s definitely our quarterback on the court. Karsyn makes the plays that don’t always show up on the stat sheet.”

The Hornets slowly pulled away as time wound down. Martin and Murray led the way, dominating the low post at both ends of the court and combining for 11 points.

Olivia Reed (8 pts) and Abbey Beatty (4 pts) also contributed key buckets down the stretch for Honesdale.

Building momentum

With a 2-0 showing at the Jaycees Tournament, Honesdale appears poised to hit the ground running in early season Lackawanna League action.

The Hornets went 12-2 last winter, finishing second in the Division II standings and trailing only undefeated Dunmore (14-0). They then advanced to the District 2 Class 4A semifinals before falling to Valley View.

“I really enjoy coaching this team,” Reno said. “Just a wonderful group to be around. They work hard. They’re dedicated to getting better each day, and are very entertaining.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale Area Jaycees Holidays Basketball Tournament Honesdale