NICK MATVIKO and STEPHEN PREDEBON

SCHOOL: Leechburg.

WHO ARE THEY? Senior forwards who have led the Leechburg boys' basketball team to the WPIAL Class A championship game for the first time in school history.

THE PAST WEEK: Predebon scored 29 ant Matviko 20 as Leechburg defeated No. 1 seed Serra, 56-55, in a semifinal game Tuesday. In a 49-44 quarterfinal victory against Western Beaver Friday, Matviko had 29 points and Predebon 19 points and 14 rebounds.

TWO FOR 1,000: Predebon (6 feet 3, 185 pounds) and Matviko (6-2, 195) have been varsity players since their freshman years and both have scored more than 1,000 career points. This season, Matviko is averaging 20 points a game and Predebon 18.

SINCE PRE-SCHOOL: Predebon and Matviko are best friends and have known each other since attending pre-school together. Both work as lifeguards at Fox Chapel Country Club.

IT'S ELECTRIC: Matviko and Predebon are heroes in the town of Leechburg. Said Predebon, "It's electric around here. People around the town and the school are excited. [For the Serra game], we had three full fan buses go to our game. I didn't even know there were that many kids at our school."

THE FUTURE: Matviko and Predebon are good students, carrying a 3.6 grade-point average. Matviko hasn't decided on a college, but would like to possibly play at a small college. Predebon has decided on Slippery Rock University, where he plans to major in exercise science and physical therapy. His playing days will be over after this season.

By Mike White

JORDAN BURKES and MELANIE BIHLER

SCHOOL: Montour.

WHO ARE THEY? The top scorers on the girls' basketball team, which will play for the WPIAL Class AAA title Saturday. The Spartans (20-7) will face Hopewell (25-2), the defending champion, at Duquesne University's Palumbo Center.

THE PAST WEEK: Bihler scored 20 points and Burkes 18 Tuesday in a 55-52 semifinal victory against Greensburg Salem. Burkes had 12 points and eight assists and Bihler 11 points Friday to help the Trojans topple Mars, 62-42, in the quarterfinals.

SEASON: A 6-foot senior guard/forward, Burkes is averaging 16.7 points, 4 assists a game. Bihler, a 5-11 forward, averages 15.3 points, 9.9 rebounds.

CAREER: Burkes has started since the opening game of her freshman season and has 1,172 career points. Bihler was a part-time starter as a sophomore but has been full time since.

DIFFERENT STYLES: Coach Jack Burik said that Bihler plays mostly inside and has greatly improved her offensive post skills. Burkes is extremely versatile.

AGONY OF THE FEET: Bihler missed the final three regular-season games with a stress fracture in her left foot. She said the injury occurred during volleyball season -- Burkes is a teammate in that sport as well.

FAB FOUR: Basketball is a Bihler family tradition, as all four siblings have played for the Montour girls' team: Marci, Lauren, Lindsay and now Melanie. Lindsay won the Class AAA high jump title at the PIAA track championships in 2003.

FUTURE: Burkes has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Division II Seton Hill. Bihler isn't sure whether she will play volleyball or basketball in college.

By Rick Shrum