Laugand, Sestina, DaCanal, Bean earn All American Awards & Engraving All-District 9 Awards; All D9 teams named

CLARION, Pa.  – It’s rare to find two players in District 9 playing two completely different positions who are nearly inseparable when trying to determine the best.

But that is exactly what happened this year with Clarion-Limestone point guard R.J. Laugand and Cameron County power forward Nate Sestina, and its the reason the two seniors are the 2015 All American Awards & Engraving/D9Sports.com District Co-Boys’ Basketball Players of the Year.

Laugand was instrumental in the Lions winning their first District 9 title since 1961 while advancing to the PIAA Class A quarterfinals this season. He averaged 17.6 points, 8.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while recording nine points/assists double-doubles. Shooting 49.2 percent (192 of 390) from the floor, Laugand hit 37 3-pointers and also shot 83.2 percent (89 of 107) from the free-throw line.

Sestina was just as good. The Bucknell recruit helped Cameron

County to the District 9 Class A title game and to the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 1972 by averaging 21.5 points and 14.3 rebounds per game while adding 3.4 assists, 2.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per contest. He had 26 double-doubles in 28 games and shot 63.4 percent (256 of 404 from the field).

While everyone’s eyes were on Laugand and Sestina, Elk County Catholic sophomore guard was under the radar for most of the year but in the end earned the 2015 All American Awards & Engraving/D9Sports.com Boys’ District 9 Rookie of the Year honor after scoring 12.4 points per game to go with 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals per contest. He shot 51.2 percent (133 of 260) from the field while making 20 3-pointers and also connected on 77.9 percent (74 of 95) of his free throws for the third-place in D9 Class A Crusaders who upset Bishop Carroll in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs before falling to eventual PIAA runner-up Farrell in the second round.

Four years ago, Greg Bean’s Redbank Valley Bulldogs suffered through a 1-21 season. But Bean and the players stuck with it, and they were rewarded this year with a District 9 Class AA title, the Bulldogs first since 1980, while advancing to the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals. For those efforts, Bean is the 2015 All American Awards & Engraving/D9Sports.com Boys’ Coach of the Year.

In addition to the awards, the 2015 All American Awards & Engraving/D9Sports.com Boys’ All-District 9 basketball teams were chosen.

Joining Laugand and Sestina on the first team are Ridgway’s Jeremy Breier, Redbank Valley’s Jake Dougherty, Union’s Cole Morris and Venango Catholic’s Devin Zagar.

DaCanal highlights a second team that also features North Clarion’s Christian Cyphert, Clearfield’s Will Myers, Karns City’s David Olszak and Clarion-Limestone’s Kolton Stiglitz and Dan Callen.

A pair of Redbank Valley’s Bulldogs anchor the third team with Devin Shumaker and Zach Westover being joined by DuBois’ Cole Kriner, Keystone’s Alex Graf, Venango Catholic’s Scott Toy and Oswayo Valley’s Brandon Brabham.

This is the 16th year of the postseason District 9 awards and the 15th they have been housed at D9Sports.com (the first year, 2000, the awards were awarded by the Tri-County Sunday out of DuBois). It marks the eighth year All American Awards & Engraving has been the title sponsor of the awards.

The 2012 Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry Business of the Year in the Economic Development Division, All American Awards & Engraving is located on Route 322 in Shippenville. The company, which specializes in all kinds of awards, trophies and engraving products as well as screen printing and embroidery, will put just about anything on just about anything. It can be found on the web at www.allamericanhq.comor by calling 1-877-402-9273.

Located at www.d9sports.com and on Twitter @D9Sports, D9Sports.com is in its 15th year of covering athletics within the PIAA’s District 9. The independent media site is not affiliated with the PIAA or PIAA District 9 in any way. For more information on the site, please visit it or e-mail the staff atsports@d9sports.com.

NOTES – In order to be eligible for the award or the all-district team, a player must participate in at least 70 percent of his team’s games. In order to be eligible for Rookie of the Year a Player must be either a freshman or a sophomore who saw limited or no time as freshman

2015 ALL AMERICAN AWARDS & ENGRAVING/D9SPORTS.COM

DISTRICT 9 ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS

CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Nate Sestina – Sr., Cameron County – 21.5 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.9 bpg, 1.6 spg; Shot 63.4 percent (256 of 404) from the field; Recorded 26 double-doubles in 28 games

R.J. Laugand – Sr., Clarion-Limestone – 17.6 ppg, 8.5 apg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 spg; Shot 49.2 percent (192 of 390) from the field with 37 3-pointers; Shot 83.2 percent (89 of 107) from the free-throw line; Record 9 assist/point double-doubles

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Nate DaCanal – So., Elk County Catholic – 12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.3 spg; Shot 51.2 percent (133 of 260) from the field with 20 3-pointers; Shot 77.9 percent (74 of 95) from the free-throw line

COACH OF THE YEAR

Greg Bean – Redbank Valley – Led Bulldogs to 22-7 record, District 9 Class AA title (first title since 1980), PIAA Quarterfinals, KSAC South Championship; KSAC Runner-up finish

FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT

Nate Sestina – Sr., Cameron County – 21.5 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.9 bpg, 1.6 spg; Shot 63.4 percent (256 of 404) from the field; Recorded 26 double-doubles in 28 games

R.J. Laugand – Sr., Clarion-Limestone – 17.6 ppg, 8.5 apg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 spg; Shot 49.2 percent (192 of 390) from the field with 37 3-pointers; Shot 83.2 percent (89 of 107) from the free-throw line; Record 9 assist/point double-doubles

Jake Dougherty – Sr., Redbank Valley – 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 spg

Jeremy Breier, Jr, Ridgway – 17.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.7 spg, 1.1 apg; Shot 46 percent (164 of 356) from the field with 20 3-pointers (20 of 76); Shot 74.0 percent (94 of 127) from the free-throw line.

Cole Morris – Jr., Union – Led District 9 with 21.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.9 spg; Shot 51 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range while making 36 3-pointers

Devin Zagar – Sr., Venango Catholic – 17.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.7 bpg; Recorded 13 double-doubles

SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT

Dan Callen – So., Clarion-Limestone – 12.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 1.2 spg; Shot 51.4 percent (145 of 282) from the field; Recorded 5 double-doubles

Kolton Stiglitz – Sr., Clarion-Limestone – 13.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 spg; Shot 52.4 percent (185 of 353) from the field; Recorded 7 double-doubles

Will Myers – So., Clearfield – 16.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg

Nate DaCanal – So., Elk County Catholic – 12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.3 spg; Shot 51.2 percent (133 of 260) from the field with 20 3-pointers; Shot 77.9 percent (74 of 95) from the free-throw line

David Olszak – Sr., Karns City – 19.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 apg; Hit 30 3-pointers; Shot 74.3 percent (107 of 144) from the free-throw line

Christian Cyphert – Sr., North Clarion – 20.1 ppg, 7.2 apg, 5.1 rpg

THIRD-TEAM ALL-DISTRICT

Cole Kriner – Sr., DuBois – 14.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.8 spg

Alex Graf – Sr., Keystone – 17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.2 spg; Shot 38 percent from the field; Shot 60 percent (124 of 211) from the free-throw line

Brandon Brabham – Jr., Oswayo Valley – 18.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.8 bpg; Shot 40 percent from 3-point range while hitting a school record 94 3-pointers; Shot 80 percent from the free-throw line

Devin Shumaker – Sr., Redbank Valley – 11.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.6 spg

Zach Westover – Sr., Redbank Valley – 9.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.8 bpg

Scott Toy – Sr., Venango Catholic – 14.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg