Maci Thornton Named To 2013-14 Pennsylvania Sportswriters All-State Girls Basketball Team (04/05/14)

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The Pennsylvania Sportswriters announced their 2013-14 All-State Basketball Teams, on Friday, April 4th and among those selected is Clarion Area, Lady Bobcat Maci Thornton.

Just a junior, Thornton was named to the Third Team Girls Class-A Squad. She averaged 15.6 points per game this past season, for the Lady Cats, who won the District Nine Class-A Title and advanced to the Elite Eight, in the PIAA State Playoffs. Thornton went over the 1,000 point mark and enters her senior year with 1,011 points.

Maci Thornton, 2013-14 PA Sports Writers Basketball All-State

Thornton is just the fourth Clarion Area basketball player to be named All-State, and the first in 22 years. Bobbie Simpson was named in 1992. The others are Frank Brooks, in 1966 and Ed Hepinger in 1986.

On making the All-State Team, Thornton said, “It feels really great. I honestly never expected to make All-State. I set a lot of goals from last year. I wanted to step it up this year. For example I wanted to make First Team All-District, because I made Second Team last year. Making All-State is definitely a good feeling.”

In what can only be described as a banner year for the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference, in Girls Basketball, Thornton joins four other KSAC players on the Sportswriters Teams. Keystone junior, Madison Johnson was named to the Second Team on the Class-A Squad. Johnson joins her sister Morgan, who was named to the Class-A Second Team, two years ago.

Cranberry senior, Emily Merryman was named to the Second Team on the Class-AA Squad after making the Third Team in 2012-13. Redbank Valley sophomore, Brooke Hinderliter and Karns City sophomore, LeAnn Gibson were both named to the Third Team in Class-AA. Hinderliter was a Third Team selection a year ago.

On this year’s sorority from the KSAC, Thornton said, “I’m really happy for all the girls, in our KSAC who got it. That’s just incredible. And it is just proof that we have a lot of good girls and if we could just all get together, it would be just awesome. (Beat) the private schools.”

Another girl from District Nine, Port Allegany senior, Becca Lathrop made the Second Team in Class-AA. Also from the area, Franklin senior, Angelina Starr was named to the Second Team in Class-AAA. This was Starr’s second straight Second Team selection.

Johnsonburg teammates, seniors, Cameron Grumley and Cole Peterson round out the District Nine Selections, with both making the Second Team on the Boys Class-A Squad. This is Peterson’s third straight year on the Squad, being named First Team last season and Third Team in 2011-12 and Grumley’s second straight year, being named Third Team last season. Johnsonburg coach, Bill Shuey was named the 2012-13 Boys Class-A Coach of the Year.

As to those who have helped her in achieving this accolade, Thornton said, “Coach (Roger Walter) texted me congratulations. And I said, ‘Well, you know some of it had to do with you.’  He said, ‘I’ll split it with you 80-20.’ I was like, ‘How about we split it 50 me, 30 you and 20 my team,’ something like that. It’s one big effort.

“There were a lot of people who were a part of it, my parents, as well.  My AAU coaches, I owe a lot of it to them…  Rogers Lagaund and Fred Port and my new AAU coach, Barry Foust. I’m already really excited about playing with their new team. I enjoy it so far.”

And for her fellow Girls All-Staters from the KSAC she said, “Congratulations to all the girls who made All-State. It’s a good feeling. Yeah I’m really happy for all of them. I’m excited for next year as well.”

(CONGRATULATIONS TO MACI AND ALL THE AREA ALL-STATERS!!!!)

2013-14 Pennsylvania Sports Writers Players of the Year and Coaches of the Year
Girls Class-A Player of the Year: Brenna Wise, Vincentian; Coach of the Year: Ron Moncrief, Vincentian
Girls Class-AA Player of the Year: Naje Gibson, Seton-LaSalle; Coach of the Year: Spencer Stefko, Seton-LaSalle
Girls Class-AAA Player of the Year: Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk; Coach of the Year: Steve Lodovico, Blackhawk
Girls Class-AAAA Player of the Year: Erin Mathias, Fox Chapel; Coach of the Year: Bill Wolf, Cumberland Valley

Boys Class-A Player of the Year: Maverick Rowan, Lincoln Park Charter; Coach of the Year: Mark Javens, Lincoln Park Charter
Boys Class-AA Player of the Year: Ahmad Gilbert, Constitution; Coach of the Year: Robert Moore, Constitution
Boys Class-AAA Player of the Year: Ja’Quan Newton, Neumann-Goretti; Coach of the Year: Vince Rogers, Susquehanna Twp.
Boys Class-AAAA Player of the Year: Ryan Luther, Hampton; Coach of the Year: Ralph Blundo, New Castle