Jan 9, 2016 3 min read

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High school athletics were created as an escape for kids; a place where competition can instill discipline and values. More often than not, stories of fights and controversy get more attention than the ones that show that maybe there is still a purity to amateur sport.

The boys basketball game played Friday night at Mapletown High School is one story that showed there is still humilty in sports.

Days before Monessen was set to play the Maples in a Section 3-A game, Greyhounds head coach Joe Salvino received a phone call from George Messich, Mapletown’s football coach. The two became friends through football, but instead of catching up, Messich wanted to tell Salvino about the Maples’ boys basketbal teams’ sixth man.

Austin Herpak, 18, is autistic. Well, in recent weeks, each of the Maples’ opponents had let Herpak score. Carmichaels awarded him a game ball and in each instance, opposing gymnasiums and players beamed with excitement watching Herpak celebrate.

Monessen, which has been criticized in recent years for its large margins of victory against smaller schools, wanted to give Herpak and the Maples a hand. The Greyhounds led 45-0 after the first quarter and 69-4 at the end of the second quarter. That’s when Salvino and his players made this night special for Austin. Allowing him to attempt several shots, and even passing rebounds back to him, Monessen’s players watched Herpak not only score, but he led the Maples with 12 points. Even when shots were open, Mapletown’s players passed to Herpak. At times, each of the nine players simply stood and watched, ensuring that it was Austin who had the opportunity to score.

At one point in the second half, Herpak collected a pass near three-point range in the right corner, his shot clanged off the rim and the rebound went back to him. His second shot was the same result. Monessen’s players watched Austin took two quick dribbles toward the basket and he threw a shot up with just his left hand from three feet. It went in. Mapletown’s players clapped as they ran up the court and Monessen senior forward Demond Jordan quickly patted Herpak on the back.

The moment capped a week where two of the Maples’ players left the team – leaving only six players on the roster – and the Mapletown’s record is now 0-12 overall.

Any coach would tell you there is no such thing as a moral victory after a 102-34 defeat at home, but watching Herpak’s excitement every moment he’s on the court definitley counts as a victory and it served as a reminder that despite kids’ tendency to be hurtful to their peers, they are still capable of great, kind-hearted gestures like the one witnessed in Greene County Friday night.

**I spoke to Mapletown head coach Rick Hill, Salvino and a Monessen player, so stay tuned for more on Austin in the coming days.**