Lady Cat Maci Thornton D9Sports.com Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, Bobcat Alum Greg Bean Boys’ Coach Of The Year (03/26/15)

on 26 March, 2015 at 21:37

The All American Awards and Engraving/D9Sports.com District 9 All-Star Basketball Teams were announced this week and Clarion Area’s Maci Thornton was named the Girls’ Player of the Year. In addition Clarion Area Alum, Greg Bean, the Coach of the District 9 Class AA Champion Redbank Valley Bulldogs was named the Boys Coach of the Year.

(All photos by Jack Kenneson) Maci Thornton, the game's leading scorer

(Photo by Jack Kenneson) Maci Thornton

Thornton, who led the Lady Cats to a second place finish in District Nine Class A, scored 568 points (20.8 ppg) on the season and finished with 1575 career points. She was second in the district in scoring. Thornton and her teammates made 4 straight appearances in the District Nine Title Game and won two District Titles (2012-13 and 2013-14).

Bean led Redbank Valley to 22-7 record and their first District 9 title since 1980). The Bulldogs were the KSAC South Champion. They reached the PIAA State Quarterfinals.

In what was a banner year for local schools on the All American Awards and Engraving/D9Sports.com Teams, Tori Obenrader, a freshman from North Clarion was named the Girls’ Rookie of the Year and Clarion-Limestone’s R. J. Laugand was named Boys’ Co-Player of the Year along with Cameron County’s Nate Sestina.

Fellow KSAC member Venango Catholic had the Girls’ Coach of the Year in Tom McNeillie, who led the Lady Vikings to the District 9 Class A Title.

Joining Thornton on the Girls First Team were local players, Madison Johnson from Keystone, and Brooke Hinderliter from Redbank Valley as well as two other KSAC players, Ava Homan from Venango Catholic and LeeAnn Gibson from Karns City. Joining them was Brooke Roys of Port Allegany.

Obenrader was named to the Girls’ Second Team along with two other KSAC players, Taylor Moltz from Venango Catholic and Kristina De Matteis from Monitea. Others on the Second Team include: Brockway’s Juli Esposito, Curwensville’s Ciara Strickland and Morgan Okerlund from Smethport.

Two local players made the Girls’ Third Team, Lexi Shick from Union and Abbie Schmader from North Clarion, as well as fellow KSAC player Shanel Preston from Karns City. Also on the Third Team were: Dayna DeSalve from DuBois, Julia Sweeney from Elk County Catholic and Susie Gusito from Cameron County.

Joining Laugand and Sestina on the Boys’ First Team were Cole Morris from Union and Jake Dougherty from Union. Venango Catholic’s Devin Zagar joins them. Also on the First Team is Jeremy Brier from Ridgway.

Three local players made the Boys’ Second Team: Dan Callen and Kolton Stiglitz from Clarion-Limestone and Christian Cyphert from North Clarion. David Olszak from Karns City joined them. Also on the Second Team were Will Myers from Clearfield and DaCanal.

Three local players made the Boys’ Third Team, Alex Graf from Keystone and Redbank Valley’s Devin Shumaker and Zach Westover. Scott Toy from Venango Catholic joined his fellow KSAC members. Also on the Third Team were Cole Kriner from DuBois and Brandon Brabham from Oswayo Valley.

Check out D9Sports.com for their stories on the Teams for stats on all the players. They have a seperate story for the Boys’ Team and Girls’ Team.

(Thanks to Jack Kenneson for the photo. Congratulations to Maci, Greg and all the other members from this year’s Teams!!!!)