By Rich Rhoades
The District 9 high school basketball season begins with a bang Friday night as 57 of the 70 teams will play at least one game over the weekend. District teams will participate in 11 boys’ tournaments and 10 girls’ tournaments to start a season that begins a week later than usual.
Check the schedule.
So who are the players to watch and teams to beat? Read on. D9Sports.Com announces its preseason all-district team listed below and check out the team-by-team breakdown.
Returning players are based on last year’s rosters.
RRR ROADHOUSE D9SPORTS.COM
PRESEASON ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
BOYS
Scott Booth, Sr., Union: First-Team All-District 9 last year and a three-time all-district player. Last year, he led the Knights with 21.3 points per game, which rank third in the district, and 6.6 rebounds per game. He’s the leading active boys’ scorer at 1,136 career points.
Allan Eaton, Jr., A-C Valley: First-Team All-District 9 last year after averaging 17.2 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.
Jeremy Schmader, Jr., North Clarion: Second-Team All-District 9 last year after averaging 21.8 points per game. He’s at 804 career points going into this year.
Maxx Rynd, Jr., Venango Catholic: Third-Team All-District 9 and Rookie of the Year last year after leading the district at 23.4 points per game.
Robby Wortman, Sr., Elk County Catholic: Third-Team All-District 9 after averaging 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
GIRLS
Kayla Hoohuli, Jr., St. Marys: The reigning Player of the Year comes into the season with 1,194 career points. She led the district in scoring at 26.9 points per game while also averaging 6.3 steals, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. She’s already a two-time all-district selection.
Hannah Heeter, Sr., Cranberry: First-Team All-District 9 last year after averaging 13.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for the Class AA champion Lady Berries. She enters the season with 822 career points.
Geena Sneeringer, Sr., West Forest: First-Team All-District 9 last year and a three-time all-district player. She averaged 22 points per game, ranking second behind Hoohuli, while also collecting 8.6 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists per game. She’s the active leading scorer in the district with 1,514 career points.
Samantha Schwabenbauer, Sr., Keystone: First-Team All-District 9 a year ago and a three-time all-district player. She was fifth in scoring at 16.4 points per
game while adding 10.7 rebounds per game. She enters the season with 1,066 career points.
Tina Lipps, Jr., Union: Third-Team All-District 9 last year after averaging 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for the Damsels.
TIME TO REVIEW
Just in case you forgot, here’s who won what a year ago:
District champions-State
qualifiers
BOYS
Class AAA: 1. Clearfield, 2. St. Marys
Class AA: 1. Brockway, 2. Cranberry
Class A: 1. ECC, 2. Johnsonburg, 3. Keystone, 4. North Clarion
GIRLS
Class AAA: 1. St. Marys, 2. Clearfield
Class AA: 1. Cranberry, 2. Kane
Class A: 1. ECC, 2. Coudersport, 3. West Forest, 4. Austin
League champions
BOYS
AML-North: Johnsonburg
AML-South: DCC
AML: Johnsonburg
D9 League: Clearfield
KSAC-North: North Clarion
KSAC-South: Keystone
KSAC: Keystone
North Tier League: Cameron County
GIRLS
AML-North: ECC
AML-South: DCC
D9 League: ECC
KSAC North: West Forest
KSAC South: Moniteau
KSAC: West Forest
North Tier League: Coudersport
For last year’s standings, click here.
DISTRICT SCOUTING REPORT
(Listed by Classification, with
last year’s record)
CLASS AAAA
DuBois (4-18): The Beavers took a hit even before the season started when it lost junior F Garret Peterson (9 ppg), who ranked third on the team in scoring.
CLASS AAA
Bradford (12-11): Head coach Dave Fuhrman enters his 20th season with his top three scorers back: Senior G David Fuhrman (11.8 ppg.), senior F Ryan Mackey (8 ppg.) and senior F Evan Kline (6.9 ppg.).
Clearfield (22-3): The Bisons lost a lot from their district title team. Senior G Trey Campman (7.5 ppg.) ranked fourth in scoring.
Punxsutawney (12-11): Nine seniors are gone from last year’s team. Senior F Dan Kopas (12.1 ppg.) ranked second in scoring.
St. Marys (14-11): New head coach Mark Guido, a former assistant, will have plenty of new faces on the varsity squad as the top five scorers graduated. Senior F Jess Cogan (3.2) is the top returning scorer.
CLASS AA
Brockway (15-11): The defending district champions have two of its top four scorers back in junior guards Nick Anderson (11 ppg.) and Cody Anderson (7.3 ppg.).
Brookville (3-18): New head coach Bud Baughman has his top two leading scorers and rebounding back in senior F Chad Brocious (13.2 ppg.) and junior F
Jared Heschke (8.7 ppg.).
Cranberry (12-12): Senior G Eric McVay (8.5 ppg.) was second on the Class AA runner-up scoring list.
Curwensville (7-15): Senior G Sam Gardner (11.6 ppg.) was second in scoring and the only one of the top five scorers back.
Kane (13-10): The Wolves lost their top two scorers, but return their next three in senior F Arie Paup (9.2 ppg.), senior F Bert Leonard (9 ppg.) and senior
Dave Bucheit (8.0 ppg.).
Karns City (3-16): Senior G Brandon Collier (12.3 ppg.) and senior G Evan Olszak (7.1 ppg.) were the top two scorers for the Gremlins, who are now coached by former girls’ mentor Chris Bellis.
Moniteau (10-13): The Warriors return three of their top four scorers, two through four, in junior F Zach Sloan (12 ppg.), senior G Zach McCormick (11.9 ppg.) and sophomore G Kyle Armagost (10.3 ppg.).
Redbank Valley (7-15): Junior G Brandon Bain (5.9 ppg.) is the only player from the top five scorers returning.
CLASS A
Austin (1-21): New coach Jesse Valenti takes over the Panthers, who lost their top scorer Tim Cheplic to graduation.
A-C Valley (9-14): Nobody graduated from the Falcons. Eaton, junior F Blayne McGuirk (12.3 ppg.) and senior F Reed Terwilliger (9.1 ppg.) were the top
three scorers.
Cameron County (18-5): The Red Raiders lost their top five scorers to graduation.
Clarion (7-15): Junior F Sheldon Miles (7.5 ppg.) and senior G Cody Renninger (5.9 ppg.) were third and fifth in scoring.
Clarion-Limestone (15-7): The Lions have a handful of players not returning, including all-district player Matt Potvin, who averaged a double-double. Junior F
Brandon Bell (10.2 ppg.) ranked fourth in scoring.
Coudersport (11-10): The Falcons lost their top three scorers. Senior G Andrew Mickle (6.3 ppg.) ranked fourth.
DuBois Central Catholic (17-7): The Cardinals return four of their top five scorers. Junior F Chris Marshall (12.2 ppg.) and senior G Joe McNally (10.4 ppg.) ranked second and third respectively.
East Forest (2-20): Junior F Shane Silvis (5.9 ppg.) was third on the team in scoring.
Elk County Catholic (23-8): Head coach Aaron Straub enters his 30th season overall and 28th with the Crusaders, who bring back their all-district player Wortman to lead the way.
Johnsonburg (21-8): Senior F Matt Shuey (10.1 ppg.) was third in scoring and the only one of the top four scorers who didn’t graduate.
Keystone (23-4): Head coach Greg Heath enters his 26th season 22 wins shy of 500 career wins. He lost his top two scorers as senior F Dan Reed (8 ppg.) and senior G Ben Marchand (6.1 ppg.) ranked third and fourth.
North Clarion (20-7): The Wolves return their top three scorers in Schmader, senior F Kyle Gilbert (11 ppg.) and senior G Zach Weaver (7.7 ppg.).
Oswayo Valley (15-8): Senior F C.J. Sebastian (9.5 ppg.) and junior G Camden Nolan (8.9) was fourth.
Otto-Eldred (8-13): The Terrors, under new head coach Tim Fox, lost their top four scorers. Senior F Shawn Barnish (4.8 ppg.) was fifth.
Northern Potter (5-17): Senior G Dalton Grimes (8.3 ppg.) was the Panthers’ second-leading scorer.
Port Allegany (15-7): Senior F Lucas Kline (7.8 ppg.) was the fourth-leading scorer.
Ridgway (3-18): Junior G Ben Jaques (7.5 ppg.) and sophomore G Eric Matheson (6.1 ppg.) were second and third in scoring.
Sheffield (6-14): Senior F Craig Fitch (7.5 ppg.) and senior F Lyle Shine (6.6 ppg.) were third and fourth in scoring.
Smethport (10-12): Junior G Steve Alfieri (6.2 ppg.) and senior C Josh Vangor (3.9 ppg.) were third and fourth in scoring.
Union (15-9): Booth is one of the top three scorers returning to the Golden Knights. Senior guards Logan Mortimer (10.5 ppg.) and Zach Smith (9.3 ppg.) ranked second and third behind Booth a year ago.
Venango Catholic (12-11): After Rynd, junior F Mark Kulinski (5.1 ppg.) was fourth in scoring.
West Forest (4-18): Sophomore Drew Sneeringer (5.2 ppg.), the younger brother of Geena, was third in scoring.
GIRLS
CLASS AAAA
DuBois (4-17): The Lady Beavers return their top three scorers in senior G Kirsten Wilcox (13.1 ppg.), junior F Lindsey Obremski (9.1 ppg.) and junior G Carly Wallock (4.7 ppg.).
CLASS AAA
Bradford (4-18): New head coach Ann Nuzzo has the team’s top three scorers back from last year in senior G Michele Keane (9.4 ppg.), senior G Brittni Wiseman (7.8 ppg.) and senior G Erica Siffrinn (5.7 ppg.).
Clearfield (13-12): Four of the Lady Bisons’ top six scorers are back, led by senior G Gwenn Porter (7.4 ppg.), who led the team in scoring.
Punxsutawney (7-16): The Lady Chucks return three of their top four scorers, led by leading scorer in junior G Jenna Reitz (8.8 ppg.). Ninth-year head coach Randy Reitz is 25 wins shy of 300 overall wins, counting his eight years with the Brookville boys.
St. Marys (21-3): After Hoohuli, senior G Amanda Simbeck (6 ppg.) and senior F Herbstritt (5.3 ppg.) are the others who were in the top six in scoring from last year.
CLASS AA
Brookville (13-10): Senior G Brynna Hetrick (9.8 ppg.) led the Lady Raiders in scoring and accounts for almost all of the returning scoring.
Cranberry (21-5): The defending champions have their top two scorers back in Heeter and junior G Sarah Lutz (9.5 ppg.), the only two in last year’s top six.
Curwensville (0-22): New coach Rusty McCracken has second-leading scorer in senior G Tess Bloom (8.4 ppg.) back.
Kane (18-7): The Lady Wolves lost their top two scorers, but senior F Natalie Kossack (8.1 ppg.), junior G Natalie Saquin (6.1 ppg.) and senior G Kalie
Walter (5.3) ranked third through fifth.
Karns City (5-15): The Lady Gremlins lost their top three scorers to graduation, but have fourth-leading scorer senior F Stephanie Stoughten (3.5 ppg.) back.
Keystone (10-13): New coach Jason Nellis has the team’s top four scorers returning. After Schwabenbauer are junior F Sarah Wilson (7.5 ppg.), junior F
Molly Wise (7.1 ppg.) and junior G Jillian Love (5.6 ppg.).
Moniteau (17-7): Senior F Alex Guercio (14 ppg.), senior G Jenna McCorry (11 ppg.) and senior G Kathleen Harding (5.8 ppg.) ranked second through fourth in scoring.
CLASS A
A-C Valley (5-17): The Lady Falcons have three of their top four scorers back, led by leading scorer in senior G Erin Larimore (12.2 ppg.) along with junior G Meghan Cratty (9.8 ppg.) and sophomore Mikyla Denchke (4.6 ppg.).
Austin (22-5): Senior C Emily Wambaugh (7.5 ppg.) and sophomore G Katelyn Valenti (6.6 ppg.) were third and fourth in scoring.
Brockway (8-14): Senior C Michelle Mancuso (5.9 ppg.) was fourth in scoring.
Cameron County (11-11): Senior G Bre Dunsmore (9.9 ppg.) led the Lady Raiders in scoring.
Clarion (10-13): Senior G Kaitlyn Roth (9.3 ppg.), senior G Skyler Ganoe (8.1 ppg.) and junior G Tiff Smathers (5.9 ppg.) were second, third and fifth in
scoring.
Clarion-Limestone (6-14): Senior G Olivia Pinson (11.1 ppg.) led the Lady Lions in scoring.
Coudersport (22-7): The Lady Falcons have three of their top five scorers back in junior G Jenna Matzinger (11.3 ppg.), last year’s RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.Com Rookie of the Year in sophomore Delanie Cowburn (8.2 ppg.) and junior G Tori Brown (5.5 ppg.).
DuBois Central Catholic (9-15): The Lady Cardinals’ top three scorers are back in junior G Megan Witherow (9 ppg.), junior F Miller Hopkins (8.8 ppg.) and sophomore G Lauresa Gulvas (7.6 ppg.).
East Forest (9-14): Sophomore G Erica Long (6.4 ppg.) ranked third in scoring and is lone player out of the top four scorers back for new head coach Kerry Wolbert.
Elk County Catholic (27-2): Only three players with varsity experience from last year’s championship team are back, led by second-leading scorer in senior F Emily Detsch (11 ppg.).
Johnsonburg (17-9): The Ramettes lost their top three scorers to graduation. Junior Justis Myers (8 ppg.) ranked fourth.
North Clarion (16-8): Senior G Jessica Tarr (12.5 ppg.) and senior F Karlee Cyphert (12.3 ppg.) ranked second and third in scoring for last year’s RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.Com Coach of the Year Paula Judy.
Northern Potter (6-16): The Lady Panthers’ top six scorers are back, led by senior F Tristin Rounds (7.9 ppg.), junior F Kirsten Potter (6.9 ppg.) and junior G Olivia Martin (4.5 ppg.).
Oswayo Valley (7-14): Three of the team’s top five scorers back, led by junior G Elizabeth Rix (7.2 ppg.), junior F Krystina George (6 ppg.) and junior F Brielle Cornelius (5.6 ppg.) were ranked second, fourth and fifth.
Otto-Eldred (13-11): Senior C Taylor Thomas (8.4 ppg.) and senior G Jordan Beckwith (7.9 ppg.) ranked second and third respectively.
Port Allegany (9-12): The Lady Gators have their top three scorers back in senior G Shanel Halle (11 ppg.), senior G Kaitlyn Kio (7.6 ppg.) and junior G Renee Edgell (5.5 ppg.).
Redbank Valley (8-14): Tom McClaine returns to coach the Lady Bulldogs. Senior G Michelle Veronesi (5.8 ppg.) was third in scoring.
Ridgway (6-17): Senior G Bekka Leitzel (8 ppg.) was second in scoring as the Lady Elkers return four of the top five scorers.
Sheffield (6-14): Senior G Amber Morrison (7.2 ppg.) and senior G Caryn Copley (7.2 ppg.) tied for second on the team in scoring.
Smethport (2-20): The Lady Hubbers graduated their top four scorers. Sophomore Lauren Stratton (3.6 ppg.) was fifth.
Union (15-8): Three of the top four scorers are back. After Lipps, senior F Lepha Logue (9.3 ppg.) and senior F Brooke Pollock (7.8 ppg.) ranked second and fourth.
Venango Catholic (3-19): Three of the top four scorers return in junior F Kayla Cook (8.4 ppg.), junior G Mary Maleski (8 ppg.) and junior F Emilee Janidlo (4.7 ppg.) who were first, second and fourth.
West Forest (25-4): Four of the team’s top six scorers return. After Sneeringer, senior F Alyssa Dreihaup (8.4 ppg.), senior C Amanda Carll (6.8 ppg.) were third and fourth.