TABITHA BEMIS

SCHOOL: Quaker Valley.

WHO IS SHE? The WPIAL all-around gymnastics champion.

THE PAST WEEK: A freshman from Leetsdale, Bemis was first in three of four events at the championships Saturday at Moon Middle School. She won the floor exercise (9.58), the bars (9.45) and the balance beam (9.3). Her four-event total of 37.68 was slightly ahead of the runner-up, Sarah Hein (37.58) of Pine-Richland.

CAREER: Although this is her first year of WPIAL eligibility, Bemis is an experienced gymnast. She took up the sport at age 3 and has been a member of the Rochester Turners, a Beaver Valley club, since 7. Quaker Valley does not have a team, so Bemis had to compete at the WPIAL meet as an independent.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Missy Yeck, Bemis' coach with the Rochester Turners and at the WPIAL championships, wasn't surprised her student won Saturday.

"Ability-wise, I knew she could," Yeck said. "I just didn't know how she'd handle the pressure of her first WPIAL competition. But Tabitha is a pressure player."

FUTURE: The PIAA does not sanction a championship gymnastics meet, so Bemis and a number of other competitors statewide will compete in the Pa. Championships tomorrow and Saturday outside Chambersburg. Bemis is a top-notch student who, according to Yeck, will ultimately have a good chance to earn a gymnastics scholarship from a Division I college program.

By Rick Shrum

DEJUAN BLAIR

SCHOOL: Schenley.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-7, 250-pound senior who is a Pitt recruit and has helped establish the Schenley boys' basketball team as one of the best in the eastern United States.

THE PAST WEEK: Blair had 32 points, 20 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and 2 steals in an 85-74 victory against DeMatha Catholic in the Primetime Shootout in Trenton, N.J. DeMatha came into the game ranked No. 20 in the country by USA Today and 27th in the Studentsports.com Fab 50. Blair also had 22 points and 20 rebounds in an 85-70 victory Thursday vs. Oliver.

SEASON: Blair is averaging 17 points a game for Schenley (20-2).

TOP PERFORMANCE: Blair was a member of the Post-Gazette Fabulous Five as a sophomore and junior, so he has enjoyed numerous big games. But he classifies his performance against DeMatha as possibly the best. "That's No. 1 for me right now. Just because it was on that big of a stage."

Ten of the top 25 teams in USA Today's rankings played in the two-day event. Schenley was No. 21 and moved up to No. 18 this week. The Spartans are No. 26 in the Fab 50 rankings.

"If I want to make the McDonald's All-American Game, I think that [DeMatha game] might have given me a boost," said Blair, who is ranked among the top 50 players in the country by some scouting services.

FRENCH CONNECTION: Blair plans on accepting an invitation to participate in an international all-star game in France in April.

By Mike White