CHELSEY BOWER

SCHOOL: Bethel Park.

WHO IS SHE? A senior who is a standout on the Bethel Park girls' swim team, a perennial power in the WPIAL.

THE PAST WEEK: In a big meet against North Allegheny, Bower won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 freestyle. She also was part of the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

TOP OF THE LIST: Bower has the best times in WPIAL Class AAA this season in the 50 freestyle (24.65 seconds) and 100 (53.56). Both times are personal bests. Bethel Park's 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams also are No. 1 in Class AAA this season.

"I think I'm doing better this season just because I really worked harder in the offseason," Bower said. "I just kicked it up a notch in terms of training."

SIZE DOESN'T MATTER: Bower has excelled, despite being only 5 feet 2. "Being bigger might give me a little advantage, but I'm doing OK," Bower said.

THE FUTURE: In November, Bower accepted a scholarship from Ohio University. She also considered Bucknell and Miami (Ohio). She has a 4.1 grade point average and scored 1,300 on the SAT.

-- By Mike White

SCHOOL: Brentwood.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-7, 215-pound senior and one of the top basketball players in the WPIAL.

THE PAST WEEK: Taylor scored 34 points Friday in a 69-65 victory at Seton-LaSalle, and 16 Tuesday in a 63-49 win against Avonworth. He has scored 20 points or more 11 times this season and is averaging 24.3 points and 12 rebounds per game.

CAREER: This is Taylor's fourth season as a starter. He has scored in double figures in 48 of his past 49 games, and has 1,358 points overall.

GROWING AS A PLAYER: Coach Dave Mislan said Taylor, who has grown a half-inch since last year, also has an enhanced game.

"Josh's strength has improved," the Spartans' coach said. "And his confidence level picked up while playing AAU ball last summer [with the Pittsburgh J.O.T.S.]."

UP TO CHALLENGES: Though he hasn't always been matched up with an opponent's tallest player, Taylor has played well against teams with quality big men this season. He scored 25 against Vincentian and David Theis, 22 against Bishop Canevin and Antonio DiMaria and 30 against Quaker Valley and Ryann Bradford.

FUTURE: Taylor signed with Eastern Kentucky, a Division I program, in November. He chose the Colonels over Youngstown State and likely will play small forward.

-- By Rick Shrum