John Heller, Post-Gazette Greensburg Central Catholic's Ashley Henderson tries to take the ball from Karns City's Laura Kepple in a playoff game last season. Click photo for larger image.

SCHOOL: Greensburg Central Catholic

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-10 junior guard, a Pitt recruit and one of the WPIAL's top girls' basketball players.

THE PAST WEEK: In the season opener Friday, Henderson had 24 points in a 69-46 victory against Maplewood. She had 33 Saturday in a 56-51 victory against Seneca Valley, and 27 in a 46-42 win against Westinghouse Monday.

DOUBLE THE SCORE: Henderson has been a starter since her freshman year and averaged 14 points a game last season. She has doubled her scoring average so far this season, pouring in 28 a game.

"I think it's just maturity starting to set in and just getting more comfortable playing," Henderson said of her increase in point production. "I think I did improve in the offseason, but I think it's just maturity more than anything."

Henderson also is stronger than a year ago. That comes from lifting weights in the offseason. She has continued to lift during the season for the first time in her career.

Henderson plays nearly everything for Greensburg Central Catholic -- shooting guard, small forward, point guard.

EARLY DECISION: Henderson made a verbal commitment to Pitt during the spring of her sophomore year after the Panthers offered a scholarship. Most players commit to a college when they are seniors, and some, when they are juniors. While making a college choice as a sophomore is not unheard of, it is rare.

"I just felt it was the right thing to do. I didn't need to waste any more time," Henderson said. "I visited some other schools on my own, and Pitt just felt like home. They have a big family-type atmosphere there. I love the city, and everyone was real nice to me. It just felt right."

Some colleges are still sending Henderson recruiting mail, and some coaches write her personal letters, trying to persuade her to reconsider her decision.

THE OTHER SPORT: Henderson also is a starting defender on Greensburg Central Catholic's girls' soccer team that won the WPIAL Class AA championship. She has been a starter in soccer since her freshman year also. "I'll probably still play soccer next year because we're going to have a very good team," Henderson said.

LIKE A BROTHER: The star of the Greensburg Central Catholic boys' team is junior guard Franco Sebastiani, a close friend of Henderson's. "We've kind of been like brother and sister growing up," Henderson said. "We started playing together at the YMCA when we were little. I used to play on a boys' team with him and even played on his AAU team."

-- By Mike White

SCHOOL: South Park.

WHO IS HE? A running back-linebacker for the football team. The Eagles (15-0) will face Wilson Area (12-2) in the PIAA Class AA championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hershey.

THE PAST WEEK: Scruggs ran for 205 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown, and anchored the defense Saturday as South Park foiled Reynolds, 28-2, in the semifinals. The week before, he gained 265 yards in a 63-22 rout of Forest Hills in the quarterfinals.

SEASON: A 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior, Scruggs has rushed for 1,911 yards and scored 34 touchdowns.

CAREER: This is Scruggs' third year as a two-way starter. He also lettered as a freshman, playing mostly at fullback.

Against Reynolds, Scruggs became the 34th running back from either the WPIAL or City League to top 4,000 yards rushing. He has about 4,100.

"He has made more big plays -- on both sides -- than anyone I can remember," said South Park coach Tom Loughran. "He has great anticipation and great knowledge of the game. He knows what everybody is supposed to do."

WEIGHTY MATTER: Playing football isn't a practical way to lose weight, but it works for Scruggs. He said he drops 10 pounds every week, then regains them in the days after a game.

"I'm a strict eater during the week, then I'll eat everything over the weekend," he said.

QUITE A CATCH: Though he isn't a quarterback, Scruggs does get to call signals and throw the ball -- in the spring and summer. He is one of the best catchers in WPIAL baseball and a top hitter. He is a Division I prospect with pro potential.

This seems to be a natural progression, as his grandfather is Jim Rooker, a Pirates pitcher from 1973-80 and an unsung hero in their World Series comeback in 1979.

FUTURE: Scruggs has attracted interest from Division I colleges, but mostly for baseball. Villanova and West Virginia are among his suitors. But he said Michigan State was considering him as a linebacker.

Scruggs would prefer a school that would allow him to play football and baseball. "I love both games," he said, "and want to stick with both."

-- By Rick Shrum