Amy Achesinski

SCHOOL: Butler.

WHO IS SHE? A 6-foot senior forward on the girls' basketball team who has led the Golden Tornado to a 7-1 start.

THE PAST WEEK: Achesinski scored 35 points in a 60-52 victory Thursday against Plum. She had 18 in a 56-30 win Monday against North Hills.

SEASON-CAREER: Achesinski is averaging 21.5 points a game this season and has close to 1,500 in her career.

ONE DOZEN: Achesinski will graduate with 12 varsity letters. She has been a four-year starter in basketball and volleyball. She also has been on the Butler track and field team since her freshman year.

"I'm always puzzled when people ask me questions like what hobbies I have or what I do in my spare time," Achesinski said. "You spend so much time playing sports, you don't get to have a lot of hobbies. Sports is almost like a job. Basically, having time to hang out with my friends and family are my hobbies."

CARRYING THE LOAD: Achesinski's scoring has increased since last year, when she averaged 16 points a game. Butler needs the scoring now that starting point guard Lyndsy Day is out for the season with a knee injury.

Achesinski hopes the fast start is a sign of things to come. Butler has made the WPIAL playoffs two of the past three seasons, but lost in the first round both times.

"This team might have the most potential since I've been here," Achesinski said.

THE FUTURE: Achesinski, who has a 3.5 grade-point average, has accepted a full scholarship to Mercyhurst, an NCAA Division II school.

MIKE SHANAHAN

SCHOOL: Norwin.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard and one of the top juniors in WPIAL basketball.

THE PAST WEEK: Shanahan had 26 points in a 77-54 victory Friday against Franklin Regional.

SEASON: Shanahan has helped Norwin to a 7-1 record and the Post-Gazette's No. 4 ranking in WPIAL Class AAAA. He has scored 20 or more two other times.

CHANGING POSITIONS: Shanahan has been a starter since his freshman year, playing mostly shooting guard or small forward. This season, he is seeing more time at point guard. A 6-5 point guard is quite uncommon in the WPIAL.

"I used to handle the ball before, but never brought it up the court and got teams into offensive sets like now," Shanahan said.

"It's been working out pretty good for me."

TWO-SPORT STAR: Shanahan, who averaged 16 points a game as a sophomore, is a talented receiver-defensive back in football. He had 36 catches for 698 yards this past season, and 41 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Division I colleges are showing interest in him for both sports. He has made unofficial visits to Notre Dame and West Virginia for football. Duquesne, Penn State, West Virginia, Akron and Robert Morris are showing interest for basketball.

Shanahan isn't sure what sport he will choose for college.