Lady Cat Maci Thornton Joins C-L’s R. J. Laugand As TCS/C-E Basketball Players Of The Year, Bobcat Alum Greg Bean Boys Coach Of The Year, Taylor Smith Is Honorable Mention (04/04/15)

on 4 April, 2015 at 21:47

The Tri-County Sunday/Courier Express 2014-15 All-Star Basketball Teams were announced in the April 5th edition of the Tri-County Sunday and the local area came away with three of the four top awards. The DuBois papers named Clarion’s Maci Thornton the Girls’ Player of the Year and Clarion-Limestone’s R. J. Laugand the Boys’ Player of the Year.

Clarion Alum, Greg Bean of Redbank Valley was named Boys’ Coach of the Year. The Girls’ Coach of the Year is Elk County Catholic’s Ken Pistner, who won the award for the fifth time(former Clarion Coach Roger Walter won the award the three previous years). Clarion’s Taylor Smith is an Honorable Selection on this Season’s Boys’ Squad.

(Photo by Jack Kenneson) Maci Thornton Girls’ MVP

This is the second year in a row that the Lady Cats have provided the Player of the Year, with Kyla Miles winning last year’s top honor.

Thornton led the Lady Cats to their fourth straight District Nine Class-A Title Game appearance. She was a member of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Championship Teams. Thornton scored 568 points this season and had a career total of 1575 career points (second All-Time for the Lady Cats). She also had 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 4.6 steals per game this past season.

Joining Thornton on the First Team were: Brooke Hinderliter – Redbank Valley; Julia Esposito – Brockway; Dayna DeSalve – DuBois; Julie Sweeney – Elk County Catholic; and Ciara Strickland – Curwensville.

Girls’ Honorable Mention selections include: Becca Dougherty – Redbank Valley; Hali Olson – Brookville; Ashley Imbrogno – Johnsonburg; Jessica Kifer – Ridgway; and Hannah Dixon – Curwensville.

The Girls’ Coach of the Year is Elk County Pistner, who won the award for the fifth time. Former Clarion Coach Roger Walter won the award the three previous years.

Joining Laugand, who finished his career as C-L’s All-Time leading scorer with 1853 points, on the Boys First Team were: Kolton Stiglitz – Clarion-Limestone; Jake Dougherty – Redbank Valley; Colt Kriner – DuBois; Jeremy Breier – Ridgway; and Nate DaCanal – Elk County Christian.

(Photo by Bri Nellis – Bri Nellis Photography)
Taylor Smith

Smith, who scored 365 points for the Bobcats, joins fellow Honorable Mentions: Josh Kahle – Clarion-Limestone; Zach Westover and Sam Heeter – Redbank Valley; Kurt Schlindler and Ben Cudworth – Brookville; Jake Wineberg – Brockway; Zach Sloan and Nick LaBrasca – DuBois; Christian LaParne – DuBois Central Catholic; Christian Cherry, Zane Hodgdon and Kevin Benson – Johnsonburg; Ben MacDonald – Ridgway; Parker Housler and Zach Reigel – St. Marys; and Jake Terry and trey Rauckhorst – Curwensville.

(Thanks to Bri Nellis and Jack Kenneson for the photos. Congrations to Maci, Taylor, R. J., the other selectees from KSAC schools and the rest of this year’s team members!!!)