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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.10.23
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Mike White
11:27
It will be tough because they don't have any depth. Jonathan Anderson is really good. I saw them Friday against Butler. They are a typical Ralph Blundo team. But losing Boice is big. He was averaging 19 and no one will come close to that. But it still wouldn't surprise me if they do OK with him out. That section is up for grabs.
Coach K
11:27
WPIAL  championships at the Pete this year?  I was at a state playoff game at Robert Morris.  Great atmosphere in a smaller setting.
Mike White
11:29
Yes, I really like Robert Morris. And The Coop at Duquesne also. Would be great for high school games. But you have to remember. Those places are too small for championship doubleheaders that The Pete puts on. Friday and Saturday nights draw over 6,000 fans. Sure, you could put some of the smaller classes at Robert Morris. But like I've said before. It costs money to play at these places. Why would the WPIAL rent another place? And the people who would have to play at Robert Morris would probably complain that they aren't at The Pete.
Wpial Hoops
11:29
Moon vs Char Valley tonight who wins
Mike White
11:29
Tossup. Should be a good one.
WpialFan
11:29
girls basketball scores are absolutely crazy anymore.... has it always been this lopsided? what is going on? every night it seems there are about 10 or more 50 point games
Mike White
11:30
Where have you been? It's been this way for probably 20 years now. Blowout city on every night.
Tom S
11:30
When are schools going to give head football coaches pay raises... I know that it is controversial to pay football coaches a lot of money.. but with the hours they put in and the pay the get, its no wonder there are 30-40 jobs opening each year.
Mike White
11:31
What do you want? Make it like Texas and give them full-time salaries of 70 or 80,000. C'mon, man. School board would get crushed if they hired a football coach paid them that much just to be a coach. And don't you hear coaches say all the time, "They're not coaching for the money."
11:34
More about the coaches. I know they put in tons of time. But they all know it going in. So if you think it's not enough money, don't take the job. Simple as that. Yes, the amount of hours does burn some out. But here's what I say. No one is forcing you to bring your players in five days a week in June and July for maybe 3 hours a day. No one is forcing you to go every weightlifting session starting in January. Get your assistants to help more. Coaches have created the year-round stuff themselves.
Referee Appreciation Week
11:34
Please remember an official you are yelling at is someone's mother, father, daughter, and son. Athletics are supposed to be an extension of the school classroom. Parents would you be upset if your student athlete was yelled at in the classroom.
Mike White
11:34
Thank you.
HoopLover
11:34
Thoughts on CV Boys Basketball?
Mike White
11:36
I'm doing a story on them later in week. They're 12-0. I don't think anyone expected that after going 8-15 last year. Brandon Sensor has done a fine job. And they don't have a player taller than 6-2. Then again, you look around at many of the top teams in Western Pa., and they lack size. For whatever reason, for the past 30-40 years, Western Pa., doesn't produce many big players and few "good" big players.
Coach O
11:36
Was Beaver Falls not expected to be good this year? Sitting at 2-6 for usually always competitive to strong program. Still have some really good athletes from football like Brickner and Singleton playing. Injuries?
Mike White
11:36
Not sure the reason, except they aren't anything like they used to be.
Guest
11:37
Can anyone play with Imani in Class A?
Mike White
11:39
For sure, Imani has the most size and talent. But remember, they did lose in semifinals to Union last year and Union has all five starters returning. Not saying Imani won't win it. Imani still the favorite - and they should be with all the transfers they've brought in past two years. But they aren't unbeatable. And those Union kids have a certain toughness to them.
Highlander Power
11:39
Not trying to spin the rumor mill, but hearing that Baldwin is prepared to offer a substantial raise to Mr. Palko should be wish to bring his coaching talents to them....
Mike White
11:41
Not trying to spin the rumor mill, huh? Sure. Isn't Tim Sweeney still Baldwin's coach. Oooops, I forgot. You're not trying to spin the rumor mill.
Old Timer
11:41
Hey Mike, hope you’re well. I’ve been watching high school basketball in this area for decades, and i’ve become unimpressed with the areas “top talent” over the last few seasons. Kids seem to be consumed in themselves and this “highlight culture” more so than i’ve ever seen. Not playing to make teammates better, and doing everything on the court like the best players always have. What’re your thoughts?
Mike White
11:44
Did you just come in from outside and yelling "get off my lawn." Unimpressed with top talent? Well, Ethan Morton of Butler is playing for No. 1 team in country and you won't find a better teammate than him - ever. We have two sophomores rated among the top 20 in the country and a junior among the top 75. But we want to cut down the top talent. Sure, there are kids who shoot a lot. But you're living in fantasy world of the dark ages if you didn't think there weren't "gunners" 50 years ago.
GOLDEN EAGLES
11:44
We had the best two 3A players in in our (KO) gym. Valentine is an athletic, relentless battering ram on every possession. We were able to beat SV.  I was more impressed with Spratt, He got his 30 also, but picked our double teams apart - easy buckets for his teammates. Seton beat us easy by 11.  Really enjoyed watching him- reminds me of Devin Carney last season.  Have you seen him play yet this year?
Mike White
11:45
Only saw Spratt in a fall league game. Very good. But so is Valentine. Valentine bigger. I don't like comparing players, especially when they're different styles. You have to be impressed with Valentine. He has at least four 3's every game. Will be interesting to see how much better Seton does now with Spratt back. But Spratt is underrated, I feel like.
Franklin
11:46
Hypothetical.... what two schools pitted up against each other would bring the biggest crowd to the pete.
Mike White
11:48
Schools that haven't been to the finals in a while. Or schools with tradition from small towns. A star player also helps. I don't know if you're going to get a bigger crowd than last year's New Castle-Laurel Highlands title game. Then again, people have no idea what it used to be like for WPIAL playoff games, when even quarterfinal games and semifinal games were being played at Civic Arena and 10,000 would show up for a doubleheader. Those were the golden days of WPIAL basketball.
WPIAL fan
11:48
What are your thoughts on teams that hold the ball for a minute-minute and a half per possession? Good coaching strategy against more skilled teams? Or bad for the game? Makes some games pretty tough to watch
Mike White
11:50
Most coaches want a shot clock. So do I. There are two thoughts. Some coaches believe a team that has lesser talent has to use one-minute possessions to have a chance. I don't like it. I wish we had a shot clock. But I have been meaning to do a study and watch 5-6 games on film of teams at various levels. I don't believe a 35-second shot clock would come into effect many times.
Sportsmanship
11:50
Saw Lincoln Park went up to Burger King Classic in Erie and won the dang tournament.  Will their head coach Mike Bariski actually be able to put all the talent he has together this year or will be get out coached again in the playoffs?  4A had some pretty strong coaches that always seem to do more with less than anything Lincoln Park has ever had.
Mike White
11:51
Lincoln Park has really good one-two tandem in Cummings and Thomas. But others - and their parents, don't forget - want to get their shots and points also. God bless, Mike Bariski for trying to make everyone happy down there.
Tony Dorsett
11:51
What’s wrong with my Vikings? Both Football and Basketball programs have been a joke for 10+ years
Mike White
11:52
Ahhhh, they're not very good. Do you have any eligibility left, Tony?
Franklin
11:52
How do we stop the privatization of youth sports? Baseball turning into hockey... Without a private trainer or travel team your kid is left out. Ridiculous.
Mike White
11:54
There are so many private trainers in so many sports now. Hey, all the power to them to try to try and make a living off it. Some are good. Some are ... well, I won't say. Put it this way, there are a lot of naive parents out there at all ages. And believe me, I wish I had a dollar for every trainer that has contacted me wanting a story done on him or her for what they're doing. Not to be critical.
Wpial Hoops
11:54
Saw Carlynton only lost by 2, they have some size on that team do you think they could take down imani
Mike White
11:55
Carlynton is pretty good. They're one of the better 1A teams. I don't know if they beat Imani, though.
Tony Dorsett
11:55
Meleek Thomas, Brandin Cummings, and Big Imani kid, what public schools would they attend?
Mike White
11:56
Meleek Thomas lives in North Hills. His brother, Jayden, plays for North Hills. Cummings used to live near Lincoln Park. Not sure what public district. Alier Maluk used to live in Bethel Park. Not sure if he still does. Played for Bethel Park middle school or 9th grade team as an 8th grader for part of the season.
Hoops guy
11:57
How good is Shaler boys?  I heard they were up big on Woody High and they are doing it without their starting point guard who is hurt.  Also, how good is Hampton?  They seem to have some big wins.  Sounds like the Kramer kid is for real
Mike White
11:58
Shaler is good. Not much size, but good, experienced guards. Sleeper team. Hampton is obviously good also. Kramer is about a 6-4 guard who can do a number of things. But Kramer will not be able to play in the playoffs because of PIAA transfer rule. Totally changes that team come playoff time.
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