The High School Athletes of the Week, as selected by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff.

RACHEL FREDERICK AND SARA PRYBYL

SCHOOL: North Catholic

WHO ARE THEY? Prybyl is a 5-foot-11 senior forward and Frederick a 5-10 junior guard-foward on North Catholic's girls' basketball team, which is ranked No. 1 in WPIAL Class AAA and second in PIAA.

THE PAST WEEK: Against Moon last Thursday, Frederick scored 15 points, which gave her 1,000 for her career. She had 19 points in a 51-50 loss Monday to Erie Villa Maria. Villa Maria is ranked No. 6 in Class AAA. Prybyl had 20 points in the Moon game and 14 against Villa Maria.

A LOT ALIKE: Prybyl's and Frederick's statistics are comparable. Prybyl, who lives in Pine-Richland, averages a team-high 14.6 points a game. She also averages 6.7 rebounds and is shooting 64 percent from the field. Frederick, who lives in Hampton, averages 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and is shooting 54 percent from the field (44 percent from 3-point range).

"On a lot of teams they would be able to score 20 points a game and would be the main go-to person," said North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann. "But we have a good, all-around team and they're very unselfish with the ball."

Frederick said: "I play AAU ball with a lot of girls in the summer who can drop 30 a game. But they're the only player on their team. But we have the best team. Anyone can score for us."

TWO FOR 1,000: Prybyl needs only 94 points to join Frederick as a 1,000-point scorer.

"There aren't a lot of 1,000-point scorers on teams," Rottmann said. "To have two of them says a lot."

MAKING FIRE: Frederick has a hobby of making candles. "I give them away for presents," she said. She also is learning how to crochet. "My grandma is teaching me," Frederick said. She is a spirited youngster with an outgoing personality. "Sara says I'm real outgoing," Frederick said with a laugh.

THE FUTURE: Prybyl signed in November with Niagara, an NCAA Division I college. Division I colleges already are interested in Frederick even though she's only a junior. But foremost on the minds of Prybyl and Frederick is this season. North Catholic won the WPIAL Class AAA title last year but lost in triple overtime to Lewistown in the PIAA quarterfinals.

"Our season is going to depend on how hard we work together," Prybyl said. "As we get closer to the end of the season, we're going to be hungry and we want to win a state championship. But I don't think necessarily that this year is going to be a failure if we don't win it."

-- By Mike White

DUANE COMPO

SCHOOL: Moon.

WHO IS HE? Compo is a 6-foot-4 guard on the boys' basketball team and the Tigers' leading scorer at 19.4 points per game. Moon (16-1, 7-0) is No. 1 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AAA rankings, is in first place in Section 2 and is striving to end Blackhawk's streak of 14 consecutive section championships.

THE PAST WEEK: Friday, in a 77-62 section victory at Quaker Valley, Compo scored eight points. That was the only time he has been below double figures this season. He followed that with 26 each in non-section triumphs against Keystone Oaks, 69-68, Saturday and Canon-McMillan, 83-52, Tuesday.

CAREER: A three-year starter, Compo scored his 1,000th point Dec. 3, and now has 1,272. He has been a shooting guard the past two seasons after playing the point as a sophomore.

ALL-AROUND GAME: Compo is a quality outside shooter -- he made six 3-pointers against Keystone Oaks -- and can penetrate off the dribble. But he is more than an offensive force. "Duane has matured so much since his sophomore year," said Moon coach Jeff Ackerman. "He is able to handle more responsibility. If he doesn't have a good game but we win, he's fine. He also has improved on defense, which more of a mind-set. In the past, he wanted to get the quick steal and go."

CRUEL TWIST: A high ankle sprain in June cost Compo an opportunity to impress major-college recruiters. Ackerman had invited a number of former Moon players to compete with the varsity at an open gym. Just before the session ended, Compo came down on an alumnus' foot. That injury kept him from playing for the Southpointe Gold team in the AAU national tournament in Orlando, Fla. "Some of the best talent in the nation was going to be there, and basketball in Western Pennsylvania is not the best," Compo said. "This was a chance for coaches to see what I have. I do feel I can compete at the Division I level."

FUTURE: If major-college opportunities don't materialize, Ackerman said Compo "can step right in at a Division II program."

BRACED FOR ACTION: After a month of physical therapy, Compo returned to the court with a brace on his left ankle. He still wears it. "That was the fifth time I'd injured [that ankle]," he said. "The doctor said if I injure it again, I might need surgery."

GETTING HIS KIX: When he isn't playing basketball or in class, Compo said he will "usually hang out with guys, hang out with girls." Two of his best friends are teammates Ryan Helfrich and A.Q. Shipley. He isn't particular about food. "I like cereal, especially Kix. I don't mind eating vegetables and green beans."

-- By Rick Shrum