MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – The PIAA Sunday afternoon released the 2015 basketball-championship brackets. Thirteen District 9 teams have games Friday and Saturday with a potential for a 14th team, the Clearfield boys, to also be playing depending on the outcome of a sub-regional game Monday. Here is the breakdown. Class A Boys – All Games Friday, March 6   (9-1) Clarion-Limestone vs. (7-5) Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, 7:30 p.m. at Clarion University (9-2) Cameron County vs. (6-3) Saltsburg, 6 p.m. at Clarion University (9-3) Elk County...

By Rich Rhoades CLARION — Blazing their way to their first District 9 title in 54 years, the Clarion-Limestone Lions took a big sigh of relief and then celebrated … like a team that hasn’t won a title in over 50 years. That was clearly the scene on the floor of Clarion University’s Tippin Gymnasium following the Lions’ 72-53 win over Cameron County in the District 9 Class A Championship game. “It feels really good,” said senior guard R.J. Laugand, who scored a team-high 18 points. “I’ve been to the...

By Rich Rhoades CLARION — For the first time in 35 years, the Redbank Valley Bulldogs can call themselves District 9 champions. Holding Cranberry scoreless for over six minutes in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs pulled away for a 40-36 win in the District 9 Class AA Championship game at Clarion University’s Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. The last time the Bulldogs won a title was way back in 1980 when they beat Kane 60-56 for the Class AA crown. Head coach Greg Bean was minus-4 years old and naturally, none of the players were being even being...