Karen Self has often rested easy the last three-plus seasons watching her Seton Catholic girls basketball team rack up 99 victories. With two mainstays like Theresa Wirth and Kayla Bustos few if any sleep aids are needed.

Wirth and Bustos, now seniors, are four-year varsity performers. Wirth a starter from day 1 and Bustos coming off the bench her freshman season. Each of those four years they've been the No. 1 and No. 2 scorers, respectively, for the Sentinels. Each season their overall games getting a little better.

"They have gotten better and better," Self said. "I remember when they were freshmen. That year we struggled to close out opponents. We'd have eight-  or 10-point leads, but we couldn't do the things to put some teams away. I was pulling my hair out. I  called  (ASU women's coach) Charli Turner Thorne one night and asked her about it. She told me to settle down and take a deep breath. She told me to remember my best players are just freshmen."

Self took the advice and hasn't fretted much since. And for good reason.

"It's been like having two extra coaches out there," Self said. "I see them now and how well they lead and direct the team. They're good players individually, and they're great clutch team players."

Wirth, who signed with the University of Denver and Bustos recently with Concordia University, first became aquainted in grade school. They played on opposing teams. When they converged at Seton their freshman season both were a bit skiddish.

"We'd known each other for awhile, but felt safer in pairs," Bustos said of their freshman season. "I came off the bench. Karen asked me if I was going to be afraid to shoot if I had an open shot. I kind of was, but what she said made me feel better. When you're a freshman you're concerned with what older players think."

Bustos didn't want to step on toes. Cautious. Self knew Bustos was a good shooter and didn't want the freshman factor to enter into the equation.

What's ensued is Bustos averages right around 13 points a game for her career. She recently broke the school record for 3-point shots made in a career that's at 120 and climbing. It was all about making a player feel comfortable.

"Karen does that no matter who it is," Bustos, who averages 12 points game and 4.5 assists per outing,  said. "If you have a good shot, an open shot she doesn't discourage anyone not to shoot."

Wirth is the third of three sisters so far to play at Seton so expectation came by association with older siblings Alana and Christina. Theresa Wirth's performance over four years has lived up to the expectation. Theresa averages 19 points a game this season and 9.7 rebounds. She recently passed the 1,000-rebound mark for her career.

"When we came in we didn't know what to expect," Theresa Wirth said. "After we saw what we could do we were more comfortable. As freshman we made it to the semifinals, but didn't think too much about it. We were freshman. The next year we lost in the quarterfinals and that was frustrating. We felt it more. Last year (a state title), we liked."

Heading into Friday night's 4A East Sky Region game against Arcadia, Seton is 99-20 with Wirth and Bustos on the roster. They are a tandem any coach would love to have, not only as an inside-outside scoring threat, but intangibles that accompany them.

"They are a 1-2 punch scoring, but beyond that on defense they make things happen," Self said. "They are great teammates and promote team chemistry. We've been lucky enough to have them here at the same time."