MARTIN PLETZ

SCHOOL: Carlynton.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-5, 190-pound senior forward who is helping the Cougars' basketball team to one of its best seasons in more than a decade.

THE PAST WEEK: Pletz had 27 points in a 69-34 victory against Fort Cherry last Friday and 26 in a 62-50 victory against Sto-Rox Wednesday.

SEASON: Pletz leads Carlynton in scoring at 20.2 points a game. He is one of the primary reasons Carlynton is the Post-Gazette's No. 3-ranked WPIAL Class AA team. The Cougars, under second-year coach Hal Minford, have a 19-3 record and will finish above .500 for the first time since the 1996-97 season. This is the most victories for Carlynton since the 1995-96 season, when it went 20-5 and won a section title. Only two years ago, Carlynton was 5-19. Carlynton also has clinched at least a tie for the Class AA Section 3 title, its first since 1996.

HARD TO DEFEND: Pletz's size and ability make it hard for teams to defend him. "He's kind of an undersized center with good ballhandling ability," Minford said. "He has quick moves and good feet. If you put a little guy on him, he tears him up inside. If you put a big guy on him, he flies right by him."

SOCCER STAR: While Pletz is enjoying success in basketball, his future is in soccer. He will play the sport at Lock Haven University. Pletz scored 31 goals this season and was named to the coaches all-WPIAL team. At 6-5, he towers above the competition.

By Mike White

SHAWNICE WILSON

SCHOOL: Westinghouse.

WHO IS SHE? A 6-foot-6 junior and the starting center for the girls' basketball team. The Bulldogs (18-3, 12-1) are in first place in the City League.

THE PAST WEEK: Wilson scored 21 points Friday as the Bulldogs toppled Allderdice, 65-45, to avenge their only league defeat.

SEASON: One of the top front-court players in the City, Wilson is averaging about 14 points, 12 rebounds per game. She has scored 20 or more in the past three contests.

CAREER: This is Wilson's third varsity season. She is an inch taller than she was the past two years.

STILL EVOLVING: "She is a good rebounder and she has a little more shooting range. Defensively, she's getting better as she learns," said Westinghouse coach Phyllis Jones. Wilson said she "would like to handle the ball better. I also have to improve my speed and jumping ... and my post moves."

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Commuting to and from school in Homewood isn't easy for Wilson. She lives in Northview Heights with her father, Carl, and has to take two buses. "It's an hour and 15 minutes one way," she said.

FAMILY TIES: Basketball is a Wilson tradition. Shawnice's father stands 6-5, and he and his brother, Mike, were outstanding players at Perry a generation ago.

FUTURE: Wilson may be the top college prospect in the City. She said a number of Division I programs have shown interest, including Pitt, Penn State, Maryland, Ohio, Miami, Michigan State and Vanderbilt.

By Rick Shrum