Trending
Bishop Carroll Catholic uncharacteristically missed the District 6 Class 1A playoffs last season, and Huskies coach Cosie Aliquo and his team, led by senior Luke Repko, were determined to make up for that disappointment this year.
After a District 6 title, a trip to the PIAA semifinals, Aliquo being named Altoona Mirror Coach of the Year and Repko being voted as the Player of the Year, mission accomplished.
"It means a lot to me, and I'm thankful," Repko said. "I definitely could not have won the award without Coach Cosie, and hearing he got the Coach of the Year was great. All the hard work we did together this offseason really paid off."
Repko edged Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic junior Jude Haigh by just four votes, 273-269, to earn the recognition.
"Without a doubt, he's one of the quickest players I have coached," Aliquo said. "He's just a competitor. With his speed, you would have to put him down as one of the better athletes to come out of our school."
Repko averaged 21.1 points per game as a senior but may have been even better on defense.
"The thing about it was that it was something we always stressed with him," Aliquo said. "We always told him we needed him on both ends of the court. We knew he could go down and score, but we needed him on the other end to defend. He was super. He went hard and was at practice every day working at it. I'm so happy for him."
Haigh's teammate, Trevor Rehm, joined Central's Eli Muthler and Williamsburg's Rowan Gorsuch on the first team.
Repko did not make any of the all-star teams as a junior and landed as a high honorable mention.
"Last year was really rough," Repko said. "We knew we had to get to work to have a good season like we had. We definitely put in a lot of work and got to where we wanted to be. It was definitely a big focus to get some wins and get to where we got. I knew I had to work as a team player and work on my shooting. It took a lot of offseason work to do that."
Repko is only Bishop Carroll's second boys basketball Mirror Player of the Year. Brandon Martinazzi won the award back-to-back seasons in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Aliquo won Mirror Coach of the Year for the third time, with previous recognition coming in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. John Yewcic is the only other Carroll boys coach to have won the honor in 1997-1998.
Repko's teammate, sophomore Jace Casses, led the voting among second-team players and was joined on that team by Tyrone's Sam Crilly, Central's Hunter Smith and Hollidaysburg seniors Jake Hileman and Cole Walters.
Central Cambria's Grady Snyder landed on the third team along with Claysburg-Kimmel teammates Brayden Haney and Elias Ritchey. Penn Cambria's Easton Semelsberger and Bellwood-Antis' Anthony Caracciolo rounded out the team.
Aliquo topped Bulldogs coach Mike Harris in the voting.
Harris had a lot of support after leading C-K to its first-ever state playoff appearance and victory in a game in which Ritchey scored the winning basket.
Central's Paul Frederick finished third in a field in which 10 different coaches received at least one vote.
"I'm stunned," Aliquo said. "To be voted by (the other coaches) is unreal. I appreciate it, but the credit goes to my players, my assistant coaches, the school, our athletic directors and Brooke, our trainer. She kept us healthy. If not for them, I'm nothing."
Carroll finished the regular season as the No. 5 seed in the District 6 playoffs but won six straight playoff games to reach the PIAA semifinals.
"I'm super happy, especially for Luke and the team that we turned it around," Aliquo said. "For me, I don't get anything without them. I'm just happy for the team, Luke, and the players. I'm sure Luke feels the same way that he doesn't win this without the other players."