Cameron County will be chasing history today at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.
The Red Raiders will be seeking their first District 9 title since 1973 when the ball goes up in the air at 8 p.m.
Their opponent, the Clarion-Limestone Lions, are facing an even longer drought, having not hoisted a district championship trophy since 1963.
“I know our community is excited and our fans are excited,” said Cameron County coach Jon Songer. “It’s amazing just how far we’ve come.”
In their 44-32 semifinal win over Venango Catholic, Keith Spehalski came up big with 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter and Nate Sestina had an 11-point, 21-rebound effort.
That group will get a C-L team that overcame a furious Elk County Catholic comeback in the other semifinal game, 49-40 in overtime.
Together, they create a matchup of schools not often seen in the District 9 finals. A matchups of teams with star players, underrated players and playmakers.
R.J. Laugand, a four-year starter and three-year all-district performer at point guard, leads the Lions.
“It starts with Laugand,” Songer said.
“He’s a heck of a basketball player. I feel like they’re playing their best when R.J.’s at his best.”
Laugand (17.9 ppg.), a silky smooth point guard, is flanked by bigs Dan Callen (6’6, 12.2 ppg.) and Kotlon Stiglitz (6’5, 13.5 ppg.).
“Stiglitz and Callen are two solid big guys,” Songer noted. “They’re long, athletic and can defend. Their other guards can play too. They aren’t just guys in there that take up space. They can defend and really shoot it.”
Laugand had an off game against ECC, but Josh Kahle (11 points) and Jesse Pezzuti (10 points) helped pick up the slack.
For Cameron County, its guards have been overlooked at times, but not so much anymore.
Spehalski has played as well as anyone in recent weeks, while Trae Smith presents a matchup problem for opponents with his shooting and ability to drive.
James Guisto is a steady hand and capable shooter, as is Mike Slusarick, while Dominic Nellis came off the bench to provide a spark in the win over Venango Catholic.
“I feel like we really started to click after the Otto-Eldred game in Duke Center,” Songer said. “It’s not that we weren’t playing hard or playing together before that, it’s just, ever since then, you can really see the focus, the togetherness. It’s awesome to see. You always here coaches talking about how their team is playing its best basketball at the end of the season and I truly feel like we have done that at the right time.”
For both schools, this moment has been a long time coming.
It promises to be an electric atmosphere at Tippin tonight, with not only the students, but also people from out of the area in attendance.
Songer noted that he has high school classmates coming from as far away as North Carolina to see if the Red Raiders can win their first district title in more than 40 years.
“We’re just a small town and a small school and this is a big thing,” Songer said. “I told the kids at practice that we’re 32 minutes away from doing something that hasn’t been done in over 40 years. Think about all the teams that have worn the red and white that haven’t got that opportunity. They’re playing for their town, playing for their community and it’s going to be a special night.”
