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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.18.22
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Mike White
11:02
Hey, it's snowy and cold outside, but that doesn't mean we can't sit inside and enjoy some warm talk. Halfway point of basketball season in section play pretty much is tonight. Plenty to talk about. So, let's get started.
Dawg
11:02
Do you think that private schools should have to move up 1 class higher than their enrollment due to no boundaries for their students?
Mike White
11:03
People have suggested that. But what about the 6A schools? They can't move up anywhere. There are still plenty who would like to see separate tournaments for public and private/parochial/charter. But like I've said before, it ain't going to happen. PIAA has no interest in that.
BillyBoy
11:03
I know it comes out later today, but have you heard what they are doing with 6A football?
Mike White
11:07
I have not. Really only choices are to keep status quo in 6A, even though only five teams. WPIAL would then schedule them for five non conference games against 5A teams. Or put the 6A teams in same conferences with 5A teams. Like, Central Catholic and NA would be in a conference with North Hills, Shaler and Fox Chapel and few others. But I know many 5A teams want nothing to do with playing in the same conference as 6A teams, even though they would break the classes out for the playoffs. And I don't blame the 5A teams. Why should they have to play 6A teams just because there aren't enough in WPIAL? That's not the 5A teams' problem. We shall see what happens today.
RichyFromQuip
11:07
Who wins tonight FC or PCC?
Mike White
11:08
I'll be there. I'll go Central.
Tom J.
11:08
Hi Mike - As an (old) alum of North Hills, I am delighted to see they are in the top spot in the rankings for WPIAL/PIAA Boys Basketball.  We never had great teams for many, many years, but recently, yes.  What is the big difference to see this lofty ranking/undefeated season thus far...coaching, players, combination?  Thank you, Mike.
Mike White
11:11
Hey tough guy "Tom," who you calling old? Ha ha. First off, I beg to differ a little that North Hills has never had good teams. They made the semifinals and lost by a point to Mt. Lebanon in 2009. Made the semifinals in 2005 and lost to Sean Lee and Upper St. Clair in 2005. Made semifinals three consecutive years from 2015-17 and made the WPIAL championship game in 2016. Had some very good teams in 1970s, but back then only section champs went to playoffs. They tied B.B. Flenory and Valley for section title in 1975, lost a one game playoff at Civic Arena. I will answer more on this question in following entry.
11:15
So Buzz Gabos has put together some pretty darn good teams in his years. Not every year. In 1983, they had one of the best teams in Class 4A. Had front line of 6-6, 6-6 and 6-5. Were upset by Butler in WPIAL playoffs. Now about this team. Yes, it is very good. Things have just come together. They have a lot of things going for them. Three players who are three-year starters and a point guard who is just right for this team. And of course, it really helps when you have a 6-7 sophomore who is a future Division I player and who is good for 20 and 10 and 4 blocks every game. And they seem to have really good chemistry, play together and defend. Those are keys. They are certainly not unbeatable. That section is a grind. But they are very good.
Mark
11:15
Two questions: Any word if WPIAL basketball will be televised? And, are the City League finals going to be at the Pete this year?   Thanks!
Mike White
11:17
Trib has internet rights to all playoff games. They will be livestreamed. No idea yet where City League final will be. And they haven't announced site for WPIAL finals. But will likely be The Pete. Maybe they will even announce that today.
Salvatore
11:17
Really bothers me Farrel and Quip are forced up and southern Columbia gets to stay. I guess 5 straight straight championships by 40 points doesn’t qualify as “success”. And yes i know what the rule says transfers transfers blah blah, but a school like Farrel who has 70 kids should not be forced up. I’m not saying Aliquippa should go and play 1A, but I think staying at 4 or 3A should be the right call. The resource gap between a school like quip and USC or Pine is astronomical. I like the rule in some cases, but there needs to be more nuance in its implementation.
Mike White
11:20
I agree the rule needs to be looked at and examined. But not because of Southern Columbia. We've been over this time and time again. To be bumped up, you have to have success points AND at least three transfers over two years. Southern Columbia hasn't had three transfers. What do you want me to say? You can't bump them up if they don't have the transfers. Criticize the rule. Say it needs to be changed. But the way the rule is written right now, Southern Columbia doesn't qualify. That's not my opinion. That's a fact.
Coach O
11:20
I forget when it closed but did you ever attend a game at the old Ambridge band box of a gym? I saw a Aliquippa -Ambridge game there as a kid with the Wuycik/DiVenzio team. Stood on a balcony seemingly hundreds of feet above the floor. Virtually little to no bleachers to sit on. And didn’t Sto Rox used to have netting or something around their entire court at one time?  Any other unique venues you can recall attending over the years?
Mike White
11:23
I was never in old Ambridge gym. But I might have been in old Sto-Rox gym. My brother was 11 years older than me and played college basketball. I was 6 or 7 when he played and I swear I was once at his game for North Hills against Sto-Rox. There were many old gyms that were ridiculously small. I remember a couple City League gyms - like Perry. You used to have stand with your back against the wall when inbounding a ball. There were many with a balcony. I remember the old North Catholic gym that was literally on a stage. I played on it. If you ran and tried to save a ball, and ran a little too far, you could fall off about a 6 foot drop. Those are a few.
WPIAL Basketball Follower
11:24
What are your thoughts on top scorers in the WPIAL? I noticed a couple kids in the WPIAL were missing from the list that should have been on there (scoring 20+ a game on average). Why didn’t they make the list?
Mike White
11:28
We try to contact every coach in WPIAL-City, asking them after the first few weeks of the season to send us their leading scorer, if they are averaging over 20 a game. Sometimes we re-contact the coach. But like every year, sometimes coaches just don't respond. Why? I don't know. After we get them once, we can keep track of scoring. But with stats, we need help from coaches and stat people at teams. You'd be amazed at coaches who just refuse to help with anything like this. And it happens in every sport. Not just basketball. We need some help on some things. If they don't want to respond, so be it. Tell me who we're missing and we'll get on it.
WPIAL FAN
11:28
Who would be on your “way to early” Fab 5 team for the early part of the season? Coach of the year early candidate? Biggest surprise and biggest disappointment team?
Mike White
11:30
Way too early. Right now, I would say I have only two - Eli Yofan and Rodney Gallagher. It can change so much and if I start mentioning Fab 5 names Jan. 15, people will fly off the handle. "What about so-and-so?" I don't know if there is a "biggest" surprise so far. And I never do anything like "biggest disappointment." These are high school kids. We don't need "biggest disappointment" crap.
NorthPGHHoopFan
11:31
Understood if you have to recuse yourself.  Who is the better young big man, Royce Parham or Alier Maluk.  Heading to Aquinas tonight to watch Imani play.
Mike White
11:33
Haven't seen Alier in person yet. Hope to soon. I think they are different type of players. All I know is Royce is really good - and young - and full of potential. He just turned 15 end of July and is 6-7. I see him adding a couple more inches. West Virginia and Ron Everhart were up to see him two weeks ago and they are very interested. Duquesne has been to see him. They are extremely interested. Look for interest to continue to pick up in Royce. And probably Alier, too.
Shills
11:34
Mike- Starting to see some football job openings.  Very rare for guys to have long tenure these days and string together long careers.  Who are the current coaches with most wins?
Mike White
11:34
Bill Cherpak and Bob Palko.
WPIAL HOOPS FAN
11:35
Hey Mike - how about some background on kids like Jaden Davis? I was told her reclassified 2x and is 16 as a freshman. Will he be able to play 4 years of HS ball at Chartiers Valley?
Mike White
11:36
I have no idea about his background and don't even like to address stuff like this, because I have no idea what you say is true. Will have to check in future.
Todd
11:36
When it comes to private schools, why aren’t all of the athletes considered transfers since, technically, all students should be attending their local public school, but choose to transfer to a private school?
Mike White
11:37
Here we go. Ridiculous comments on the chat. C'mon, man. If a kid starts out at 9th grade at a Catholic school, you want to call him a transfer? That's stupid. And you say, "they should be attending their local public school." Says who?
Question
11:37
What time is the WPIAL meeting today?
Mike White
11:37
Late afternoon.
Hsfan73
11:38
It’s early, but how would you compare North Hills to recent WPIAL/city teams?
Mike White
11:39
Easy. It's Jan. 18. Long way to go. They aren't unbeatable and that section is a grind and they have to play every team three times. You earn your legacy with what you do in postseason. Let's see what happens there.
crack-0
11:39
favorite WPIAL basketball concession stand?
Mike White
11:39
Don't have one. Honestly, I haven't ever found a basketball concession stand to be anything special.
crack-0
11:39
what do you do with 6A football?  Sorry if you answered above.
Mike White
11:40
Sorry, I answered it above.
ScoobyFROMCoraopolis
11:40
Is OLSH going to break the record? Also, do you expect any old rivalries to be rekindled because of the new football classes?
Mike White
11:42
OLSH is most certainly going to tie the record. That will happen Saturday against Nazareth Prep. Their chance to break the record of 52 in a row will come Monday against Avonworth. Avonworth is a pretty good 3A team. No guaranteed win there. If they break the record, only one other team in regular season that is pretty good. Shady Side Academy. If they beat Avonworth, I could see them extending streak into 60s in playoffs.
Big Basketball Fan
11:42
What do you think about the futures of some of the 5A teams like Franklin Regional and Kiski that have several talented sophomores? Do you see those teams being better down the road or staying at a similar level?
Mike White
11:44
Well, one of the good things about sophomores is they become juniors. If those two teams are playing a lot of sophomores, then you would think their future is bright. I saw Kiski Area Friday. They're decent. I wouldn't classify them as one of the top 3-4 teams in Class 5A, but they are decent.
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