JALEESA SAMS

SCHOOL: New Castle.

WHO IS SHE? One of the top girls' basketball players in the WPIAL.

THE PAST WEEK: Sams averaged 21.0 points to lead the Hurricanes to a 3-0 start. New Castle, No. 3 in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AAAA rankings, played Ursuline (Ohio) in a non-section game last night.

CAREER: A 5-foot-11 senior, Sams has started for four seasons. She swings between guard and forward, and going into last night's game had 1,393 career points and more than 800 rebounds.

EVEN BETTER: Though Sams played well enough to merit selection to the Post-Gazette Fabulous Five in April, she has upgraded her game.

"She's now able to shoot the outside shot. People can no longer play off her and try to keep her from driving," Hurricanes coach Luann Grybowski said.

IGNORING MILESTONE: Sams has a chance to join the elite sorority of 2,000-point scorers from the WPIAL. It doesn't excite her.

"I really don't care," Sams said, chuckling. "The team stuff is more important."

OTHER SPORTS: Sams played for the volleyball team that started this fall and is on the track team, competing in the 400-meter relay and long, triple and high jumps.

FUTURE: Sams signed a letter of intent with North Carolina A&T, a Division I program, during the NCAA's early signing period last month.

-- By Rick Shrum

PAUL MATTHEWS

SCHOOL: Greensburg Salem.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior guard-forward who is bringing attention to Greensburg Salem basketball.

THE PAST WEEK: Matthews had 22 points in a 88-57 victory against Belle Vernon Tuesday. Greensburg Salem opened the season last weekend at the Hempfield tournament and Matthews scored 23 and 22 points in victories against Norwin and Hempfield.

CAREER: Matthews has been a starter since his sophomore season and has 900 points. He also has a 3.75 grade point average.

THINKING BIG: Matthews is one of the reasons Greensburg Salem is the Post-Gazette's No. 2-ranked WPIAL Class AAA team. The Lions have three returning starters from a team that went 21-4 last season, but lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

"I think our coach [Paul Sapotichne] agrees that this may be one of the best teams we've ever had here," Matthews said.

Greensburg Salem has never played in a WPIAL championship game. The Lions have made the WPIAL playoffs 14 times since 1980, but their postseason record in that span is 3-14.

NAME GAME: Matthews' middle name is Paul. He is really Bernie Matthews III. His father and grandfather are both Bernie. His father played at Gateway and Samford University (Ala.). His grandfather coached St. Vincent College from 1968-2003 and won 505 games. The grandfather is in his first season as Penn-Trafford's head coach.

-- By Mike White