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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.13.26
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Mike White
11:02
Good morning. I guess if I'm going to do this chat today, I need to start off by addressing the future of high school sports coverage at the Post-Gazette. As you might know, the Post-Gazette announced last week that it will cease operation in May. I don't know anything more except to say that our high school team at the P-G will continue to cover high school sports in the same manner all the way until the end. Plus, it's a few months away. You never know what might happen in that time. But thank you to all the nice messages the Post-Gazette and myself have received about hour high school coverage over the many years. You all are very kind. Now onto the chat.
Mr Ed
11:02
Awhile back, you had commented on number of blowouts in girls hoops this season. Since then, I checked a couple of nights of full section play and there  were over  50% of games decided by 20+ margins, with more than a few where one team scored less than 10. Has this volume of disparity always been the case in girls hoops or is it growing?
Mike White
11:05
Hey Mr. Ed. The number of blowouts is startling. The number of non-competitive games in girls basketball now is ridiculous. I think this is the worst it has ever been, but it's been going this way for a few years. Funny, I've been charting the blowouts on some nights and plan to do a story on it. There are usually at least 10 teams a night that don't score 20 points. I did a story on this maybe 10 years ago or so and I think it's still true. Fewer girls are playing hoops in Western Pa. I am always hearing of teams can't play JV because they don't have enough players. And 9th grade girls basketball is gone. It really is something.
Joe R
11:05
For as long as I can remember the PG has done a great job in covering high school athletics and high school athletes.Mike, you in particular have done a great job in reporting the stories and honoring the kids and their coaches.Your love and respect for them was woven in to every story you wrote.Thanks.You will be missed.
Mike White
11:07
Why thank you, Joe. That is very touching. High school sports and the Post-Gazette has been a major part of my life. Heck for more than two-thirds of my life I have worked at the Post-Gazette. But we're not done yet. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I hope to be involved with high school sports coverage in some way. Let's just wait and see.
Inside_guru
11:08
Mike, it seems like the best two big men in the WPIAL are Webb from Indiana and Scarff from South Park. Any thoughts on those two as a player?
Mike White
11:16
Are they the two best? You can debate that. There are a few others. Have to look at Ryan Robbins at Upper St. Clair. He's 6-7 and about 275. True big man. A handful. Not all about scoring. But Scarff and Webb are also good.
Brian
11:16
Sorry to hear about the PG's decision to stop publishing in May, is anything being done to preserve the PG HS Sports Archive so they can be accessed after the site is shut down.
Mike White
11:17
That's a good question. And one that would have to be answered by our tech people. But I sure hope they could be preserved somehow. Stay tuned.
Todd
11:17
I know you are a big advocate for the shot clock in high school basketball.   I’m looking at some girls’ bball scores from last night, Riverside 81 New Brighton 3, OLSH 51 Mohawk 8 and West A 51 New Castle 9.  This is going to be the norm, or even worse, once the shot clock is instituted.  West A, Riverside and OLSH are not the traditional girls’ bball powers. It is a shame that the ones on the losing end will suffer even more in the future.  The rationale of the shot clock will prepare players to play at the next level only pertains to the 3-5% of players who will play at the next level.  Sacrificing the other 95-97% of players doesn’t seem that this move is in the best interest of kids.
Mike White
11:21
Todd, yes I am a proponent of the shot clock. It's the way basketball is played in many parts nowadays. I have heard that a shot clock will hurt teams that don't have as much talent as the other team. But c'mon, man. Horrendous teams that can't even score 10 points, what would a shot clock even matter to them? It's not like they can hold the ball when there isn't a shot clock. They just constantly get the ball taken away from them, even without a shot clock. And it's not about getting kids ready for college. Over half the states in this country use a shot clock. Why not Pa? (More on next post)
11:24
More about the shot clock. Teams that are bad are going to be bad, with or without a shot clock. But I believe a shot clock might force players to improve their offensive skills, where they have to make a play. But another reason I like a shot clock is it gives a team that is behind in the fourth quarter a chance. You're behind by, say, 5 with two minutes left, the team ahead can hold the ball and hold the ball and all you can do is foul to get the ball back. This way, if you play good defense for 35 seconds, maybe you have a chance to get the ball back without fouling. In my mind, and many other coaches' minds, it just might make the game a little more interesting.
Footballfan
11:25
Mike… what do you think of the rumored coaching candidates at NH and Palko at WA?  The North Hills rumors seem to make sense, Eric teaches in the building and went there.  Palko seems like a stretch going back, didn’t that end poorly with admin?  Is he not employed at PSU?
Mike White
11:26
Well Footballfan, take a look at this story. Some pretty big news of WPIAL football coaching front: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2026/01/13/ka...
11:28
And Footballfan, as for Palko, I don't know what he's going to do and I don't think he does, either. He is not being kept on the new Penn State staff. He will be at Penn State until the end of January. But I'll tell you this much: Wouldn't it be just great for Western Pensylvania high school sports if he came back to the WPIAL somewhere? I know this much. It's not in his blood to sit around and do nothing.
Frank
11:33
Is it fair to assume that for the 5A boys playoffs, the top 3 seeds would have to be CV-LP then the TJ/Peters section champ?
Mike White
11:34
I would say most likely. Unless a couple of those teams suddenly lose some games they shouldn't. I still think Char Valley is best team - as of now.
3A/2A rRankings
11:34
Common oponnents and strength of non-section schedule should be more relevant than overall records.  Seeing Jefferson-Morgan ranked in 2A. Seton, South Park and KO still being ranked ahead of Bishop Canevin is wrong. Soft Schedules shouldn’t be rewarded.
Mike White
11:35
I don't disagree one bit. But I don't have a big say in the rankings.
HS hoops fan
11:35
Who would you say is the most likeable coach in WPIAL girls basketball? I've got to go with SF's Bryan Bennett. Guy never complains at refs, always chatting it up with media and other coaches.
Mike White
11:36
C'mon, man. Most likable? Good Lord, what kind of question is that? Many likable coaches in girls basketball and all sports.
Blame game
11:37
USC grad here. I'm blaming Andy Weidl the Mt Lebanon grad for the Steelers mess. Should've hired someone from an actual football school. Am I wrong ?
Mike White
11:37
No, you are not wrong. You are absurd. Go back to bed.
Mr Ed
11:37
Sorry to horn in with another question but a followup on girls basketball; is it a little surprising to you that numbers are low considering winter is one sports season that doesn’t have significant competition for the girls time like soccer/volleyball and softball/track seasons? You’d think the good athletes would want a sport to play during cold months?
Mike White
11:39
Well Mr. Ed. Here's one thing to consider. There's club volleyball I think almost year round now. And volleyball is taking away some hoopers. Heck, soccer players play indoors now in the winter and have winter workout programs. Plus, I don't think some basketball coaches do themselves any favors by wanting their players around 10 or 11 months out of a year.
11:46
Here's a link to what I think is pretty big coaching news in WPIAL coaching football. Just FYI. Kasperowicz has been a longtime teacher at North Hills, was a star player there and a former assistant. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2026/01/13/ka...
Down Beat
11:51
Which is worse this season, Class 6A or Class 1A girls?
Mike White
11:51
Or 1A boys?
Hooper
11:56
Mike, hope you land on your feet somewhere and continue covering HS hoops/football. You are too good to sit around and do nothing. Best wishes to you, and the staff. Mars now has an opening for football, would Kim Niedbala from Union make a jump? That is who Mars should target!
Mike White
11:58
Thank you very much Hooper. I assure you I won't be sitting around doing nothing. Still want to be involved. Plus, I enjoy coaching some hoops also. Interesting point on Kim Niedbala. I really like Kim. He would be good. I'm sure that job will get some good candidates.
Jim
11:58
Or 3A boys without the Pratt brothers?
Mike White
12:01
You're talking about Aliquippa. You're right, 3A is not overly strong as far as depth of good teams. I think Aliquippa is still good, but just not as good as they would've been with Pratts. But don't underestimate this Mohawk team. They're good. Bobby Fadden real good. And Wrona, too. Does Mohawk win a title for first time since 1970? They have the potential. Just beat Aliquippa. But don't forget about few other teams, llke South Park and South Allegheny.
Portal pat
12:01
I wish you guys would put percentages of your top scorers. These guys at the top of the list have laughable percentages.
Mike White
12:02
You mean shooting percentages? First off, I don't know anyone who runs shooting percenteage list with leading scorer list. That's not to say those leaders don't take a lot of shots. I know some teams don't even have shooting percentages.
Portal pat
12:02
Obama looks like they don’t know how to use Eric James. Or is Kentucky bball that bad that it hurt his game
Mike White
12:02
I have no idea. I have not seen Eric play with Obama.
Portal pat
12:03
I went to the Obama versus Imani game because Internet guys told me they had some of the best college prospects and talent around.
Mike White
12:04
The best college prospects and talent around? Yes, there are good players. But the best around? I think not.
Portal pat
12:04
Everybody uses hudl these days. They have the percentages at the click of the button.
Mike White
12:04
No, not everybody uses Hudl. A lot, yes. But not everybody.
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