TORREY SOCHACKI

SCHOOL: Hempfield.

WHO IS HE? A 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior guard who has the Spartans' boys' basketball team off to a fast start.

THE PAST WEEK: Sochacki had 28 points in a 50-43 victory Tuesday against Kiski Area. He had 25 in a 61-56 win Saturday against Farrell.

SEASON: Sochacki is one of the leading scorers in the WPIAL, averaging 23.4 points a game. He has helped Hempfield to a 5-0 record overall and a 1-0 mark in Class AAAA Section 1.

OFF THE POINT: Ever since Sochacki started playing in elementary school, he had been a point guard. But Hempfield coach Bill Swan switched Sochacki to shooting guard this season.

"It just fit the team better," Sochacki said of his position switch. "I think I've adapted pretty well. Coach wanted me to score a little more this year. Plus, our point guard [Jon DiLorenzo] is more of a true point guard and not a scorer."

ON THE LINE: Sochacki is not just an outside shooter. "He's been getting to the rim and getting fouled a lot," Swan said.

In five games, Sochacki has shot 57 free throws. He attempted 18 against Farrell.

THE LITTLE PEOPLE: Hempfield has a small team for any classification, especially Class AAAA. Of the Spartans' top six players, the tallest are 6-1 and 6-2. Everyone else is under 6 feet.

"I find myself underneath on foul shots now," Sochacki said. "Sometimes, I'm trying to box out guys who are 6-5 and have 50 pounds on me."

Swan said, "We're small, so we've just been trying to spread the floor and get some mismatches somewhere."

SHADY CHARACTER: Sochacki lives in Hempfield Township but attended Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel as a freshman and sophomore. He transferred to Hempfield last year. As a freshman, Sochacki used to drive to Shady Side Academy every day with his brother, Tom, a soccer star who now plays at James Madison.

"When I was a freshman, he used to drive to school every day, and I would basically just sleep in the car," Sochacki said. "After he graduated, I just couldn't take the driving by myself. The distance was just too much."

THE FUTURE: Sochacki would like to play basketball in college. Some small colleges have shown interest in Sochacki, who scored 1,320 on the SAT.

-- By Mike White

NIA CAPUANO

SCHOOL: Moon.

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-10 point guard on the girls' basketball team.

THE PAST WEEK: Capuano scored 26 points and added six assists Monday in a 64-29 victory against Keystone Oaks in a Class AAA Section 4 opener. That gave her 1,016 career points.

CAREER: A senior, Capuano has started for four seasons and has played every position but center. "Being anywhere on the floor is fine with me," she said. She has been a captain the past two seasons, was first-team all-section last winter and is considered one of the best shooters in the WPIAL.

TRANSITION GAME: This is Capuano's first season at point guard. Liz Martin was supposed to return there, but a torn ACL near the end of soccer season eliminated her from basketball. Coach Tom Szczepankowski moved Capuano, a forward/shooting guard, to the point during the preseason and tweaked his offense to accommodate her shooting ability. "Nia has adjusted quickly," Szczepankowski said. "She's done a great job.'

WILLING TO MOVE: Some seniors would be resistant to such a radical role change, but not Capuano. "I was honored the coach picked me," she said. "It's a lot different running the show, setting the tempo."

SYMPATHY PAIN: Though embracing this challenge, Capuano would prefer having Martin, a friend, in the backcourt. "People ask what I'd like for Christmas," Capuano said. "I say, 'Our point guard.' "

COACH'S KID: The analogy "like having a coach on the floor" is often applied to point guards. It would be apt in Capuano's case, as she is the daughter of Moon football coach Mark Capuano. "Having a father as a coach is a huge benefit," Nia said. "You learn not to point fingers. He's always teaching me responsibility."

FUTURE: An honor student, Capuano will play at Canisius College, a Division I program in Buffalo, N.Y. She plans a dual major in physical education/elementary education, and would like to teach and coach.

-- By Rick Shrum