SHIPPENVILLE – Elk County Catholic’s Nate DaCanal, Brookville’s Aaron Park and Karns City’s Chris Bellis are the major All American Awards & Engraving D9Sports.com District 9 boys’ basketball award winners for the 2017 season.
DaCanal was named the D-9 Boys Player of the Year. He was the driving force behind Elk Catholic’s second consecutive unbeaten regular season and District 9 Class 1A title. The Crusaders finished the season 28-1 and advanced to the PIAA Class 1A quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion, Kennedy Catholic. DaCanal averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
The D-9 Rookie of the Year, Park was a big reason Brookville made it to the District 9 Class 3A title game. He finished the year second on the team in scoring (9.5 ppg) and steals (1.4 spg) while leading Brookville in rebounding (6.3 rpg) and assists (3.5 apg).
Bellis was named Coach of the Year, guiding Karns City to its first boys’ basketball title in 12 years. The Gremlins grabbed the Class 3A championship, their first since winning in 2A in 2005.
In addition to the major awards, first-, second- and third-team All-District 9 teams were chosen.
Joining DaCanal as first-team All-District are Dan Callen (Clarion-Limestone), Tommy Hazel (Clearfield), Jared Green (Coudersport), Nick LaBrasca (DuBois), Andrew Bucheit (Kane), and Jeff Wehler (St. Marys).
The second-team All-District squad consists of Clearfield’s Will Myers and Evan Brown, Owen Chambers (Coudersport), Gabe Kraus (Elk Catholic), Lake Pry (Moniteau) and Lucas Bowser (Union).
On third-team All-District are Ian McElroy (Karns City), Austin Ion (Keystone), Devin Kelly (Punxsutawney), and Justin Kasmierski and Neil MacDonald (Ridgway).
All award winners and all-district performers receive either a plaque or a certificate courtesy of All American Awards & Engraving in Shippenville.
This is the 18th year of the postseason District 9 awards and the 17th 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 ninth year All American Awards & Engraving has been the title sponsor of the awards.
