Belle Vernon

Last week: Dudzinski had 21 points in a 61-42 victory against Yough and 35 in a 77-64 victory against Frazier.

Check this out: Dudzinski, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound point guard, finished the regular season as the 13th-leading scorer in the WPIAL with a 20.4 average, and he helped Belle Vernon (19-5) to a section title. He is a four-year starter who has 1,418 points. He also was a three-year starter in football at linebacker and has a 3.6 grade point average in the classroom.

Do you go by Jake or Jacob? It doesn't matter to me. But if this is in the newspaper, you better put Jacob or my mom will get mad.

Your dad is your coach. What is that like? It's good and bad. When something goes wrong, it's usually my fault. When I do something wrong, I get yelled at worse than anyone else. But it has its rewards. He always has my back and he can make you feel good after a bad game.

Do you get the feeling that nobody thinks Belle Vernon will do anything in the playoffs? Our section isn't getting any respect. Us and Steel Valley are the eighth and ninth seeds. The other two teams from our section are in preliminary-round games. I think our team can win at least one game and actually go pretty far.

Who is the best basketball player in the universe? Does he have to be living? If not, then I'd say Pistol Pete Maravich.

-- By Mike White

O.L.S.H.

Last week: McGrath had 14 points in a win against Sto-Rox and 18 in another win against Aliquippa to lift her average to 17.3 points a game.

Check this out: A 5-foot-8 junior, McGrath finished the regular season as the WPIAL's 18th-leading scorer. She helped the Chargers to a 22-1 record, 12-0 in Class AA Section 6. The Chargers haven't lost since Dec. 1. McGrath is a stellar volleyball and softball player.

Can you win the WPIAL this season? I definitely think so. More than any other year, we have more balance, and all five starters can score.

What situation would you rather be in; two free throws to win a game, or a base hit to win a game? I would probably rather be at the free-throw line because that situation would be so much more intense. Everything would be stopped and everyone would be looking at you, and you would have to come through. I like being in those moments.

Which sport do you like better, basketball or softball? Actually, to be honest, out of the three I play, I probably like volleyball the best.

With OLSH being in Class AA, do you ever wonder how you'd perform at a bigger school? Sometimes, but I came from Montour and played there growing up so I did play with players who now play at bigger high schools. But I think people put too much emphasis on classification. If you are a good player, you are a good player.

-- By Colin Dunlap