Karika earns Player of Year

By Derek Pyda Eagle Staff Writer

March 28, 2012 Last Updated: March 28, 2012 01:36 PM High School

Seneca Valley's Alex Karika takes the ball to the hoop against Pine-Richland in a section game in January. She is the first Raider to win Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Player of the Year since Rachel Rieder in 1999.

JACKSON TWP — The 2011-12 season was Alex Karika's swan song on the basketball court and she saved the best for last.

Seneca Valley's 5-foot-10 senior guard/forward averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game for the Raiders.

The near double-double earned Karika the Butler Eagle's Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award.

She becomes the first player from Seneca Valley to win the award since Rachel Rieder in 1999.

Other players considered this season included Butler's Mackenzie O'Donnell and Slippery Rock's Morgan Siebka.

Karika, who will play volleyball at the United States Naval Academy, played basketball for 13 years.

“I've always loved basketball and I had a great time playing it at Seneca Valley,” she said.

Karika was a solid hoops player as a junior, but took her game to another level this past season.

In 2010-11, she reached 20 points in a game one time. As a senior, she scored at least that many in 10 games. Her career high came in a Jan. 23 home game against New Castle when she poured in 35 points.

“I knew I had to do my part this year to help give us a chance to make the playoffs and have a good record,” said Karika. “That mentality helped me.”

It didn't hurt that Karika entered the winter sports season on a high note after she and the rest of the SV girls volleyball team captured the WPIAL Class AAA title in November.

“She came into the season with so much confidence in her ability after the success in volleyball,” said SV coach Rob Lombardo. “There were times when we needed a basket and she would simply will it to happen. It was all about attitude.

“She also had a better supporting cast this season, the girls around her did a good job of getting her the ball.”

A switch in strategy also added to Karika's effectiveness.

“A lot of times, we would pull her out of the post and play her at guard,” said Lombardo. “Pulling her away from the hoop allowed her to use her athletic ability.”

The two-sport star made over half of her field-goal attempts (134-of-267) last season. Her improvement also included free-throw shooting.

As a junior, she shot 67.2 percent (80-of-119). Her senior campaign yielded 75.5 percent (96-of-127) from the line.

“We'd shoot free throws just about every day in practice,” she said. “Another senior, Julia Vandrak, and I would go to the YMCA in Cranberry and shoot around and shoot free throws. It helped getting all that repetition.”

Karika finished her basketball career at SV with 973 points, the second most in school history behind Marlesse Schlott.

“The fact I was able to compete and do well in a sport that wasn't my best sport, I'm proud of that,” she said.

Seneca Valley's playoff hopes ended with a loss to North Allegheny Feb. 7, but the Raiders did finish the season with an overall record of 14-8. It was SV's first winning season in five years.

“We didn't want to let the season get away from us,” said Karika. “Getting over .500 was definitely a huge plus. Hopefully, the younger girls can take that and keep building on it.”

Here are previous selections for Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Player of the Year.2011 — Tina Lipps (Union) and Morgan Siebka (Slippery Rock)2010 — Olivia Bresnahan (Butler)2009 — Olivia Bresnahan (Butler) and Lily Grenci (Mars)2008 — Lily Grenci (Mars)2007 — Jence Rhoads (Slippery Rock)2006 — Jence Rhoads (Slippery Rock)2005 — Jence Rhoads (Slippery Rock)2004 — Katie Kepple (Karns City)2003 — Katie Kepple (Karns City)2002 — Leslie Pinkerton (Mars) and Kim Nowakowski (Butler)2001 — Mary Jane Eaton (Union)2000 — Courtnay Rattigan (Karns City)1999 — Rachel Rieder (Seneca Valley)1998 — Val Zona (Seneca Valley)