KELLI COSTA

SCHOOL: Avonworth.

	John Heller, Post-Gazette Kelli Costa of Avonworth is fouled driving for a layup against Riverview. Click photo for larger image.

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-8 senior guard for the Antelopes (17-0), who are No. 1 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AA rankings.

PAST WEEK: Costa had 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists Thursday in a 73-36 victory at Quaker Valley, and 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists Monday in a 44-23 triumph at Center.

SEASON: Avonworth is 8-0 in Section 6 heading into tonight's showdown with visiting Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (15-1, 7-1).

Costa is a big reason, as she leads the Antelopes in scoring (17.4 per game), rebounding (9.2) and assists (5.8).

"Her stats would be better, but she plays only three quarters of some games," Avonworth coach Bob Schulz said.

CAREER: A starter since the Antelopes' opener her freshman year, Costa has missed only one game. Avonworth has an 82-15 record and has made the playoffs three times in that span.

Costa has 1,387 career points. She likely will break the school record of 1,503 established by Julie Moehring, class of 1994 and Schulz's assistant. Costa denies that doing so will create conflict.

"Besides my family, [Moehring] is my biggest supporter. She's said, 'If anyone breaks it, I hope it's you.' "

GOOD TEAMMATE: Schulz said Costa is capable at all positions but is primarily a shooting guard. At times, he'd like her to take that role more literally.

"Kelli is an outstanding shooter from the perimeter and she drives to the hoop well," he said. "But she probably doesn't shoot the ball as much as I'd like. She is very unselfish and sets up her teammates well."

FAMILY HOOP-LA: For Costa, basketball success is somewhat relative. Her father, Gus, played at Central Catholic in the mid-1970s and older sister Christina, an Avonworth graduate, is a regular for Carlow.

Costa is the second oldest of five children, all girls. She lives in Ohio Township, down the street from her school.

FUTURE: Costa wants to go to a Division I college, even if basketball isn't part of the equation.

"I want to be an orthopedic surgeon," said Costa, who has a 4.2 grade point average and is No. 5 in her class.

"Division I teams haven't been looking at me. What's so disappointing is I'd like to go to a Division I school because I like the atmosphere. I hope basketball goes with it, but education is first."

-- By Rick Shrum

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MIKE BURKETT

SCHOOL:Laurel

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior forward and one of the top scorers in WPIAL boys' basketball.

THE PAST WEEK: Burkett had 31 points and 6 rebounds against Rochester; 37 points and 10 rebounds against Summit Academy; 28 points and 6 rebounds against Shenango.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Burkett is the third-leading scorer in the WPIAL with a 26.7 average. He also is averaging 7.9 rebounds a game and has led Laurel to an 11-4 record.

RECORD SETTER: Burkett set a school single-game record with 45 points earlier this season. He also became the school's career-scoring leader and has 1,413 points.

"He's really strong on the inside," Laurel coach Mike Tinstman said. "Most teams realize that, but he'll also go outside and make some shots, too. Against Shenango, he was 3 of 6 from 3-point range and that made a big difference."

Burkett said: "I can shoot the 'J' from the outside if I have to. It's just a matter of what I have to do for us to get the 'W.' "

BEATING HIS COUSIN: Burkett's cousin is Shenango star point guard Steve McNees. Laurel beat Shenango, 62-59. Burkett and McNees have played together on AAU teams for eight years.

"It's kind of wild to go against him," Burkett said. "We usually do stuff together on weekends and we're pretty close. But we usually don't talk for a few days before we play each other.

"We split two games last year. Maybe I can get two on him this year."

HAIRY SITUATION: Burkett used to keep his hair shot. Now it's long. McNees also wears long hair.

"Short hair is so cold in the winter," Burkett said. "Steve and I went to the AAU national championships this summer. Everyone thought we were twins."

THE OTHER SPORT: Burkett also was a standout tight end/linebacker in football, catching 34 passes for Laurel. He also competes in track and field and will have 10 varsity letters when he graduates.

Burkett's future is in football. Some Division II schools are interested in him. He weighed 220 pounds at the start of football season, but lost 15 pounds. He plans to weigh 230 by the start of next football season.

"Football's my first love. It's Western Pennsylvania," Burkett said.

-- By Mike White