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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.21.20
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Mike White
12:02
What's up everyone. Again, sorry for delay on chat. Got stuck in doctor's office. And before we start, may I present some humor: I Tweeted it but needs mentioned again. Waiting in doctor's office, a man walks in this morning. True story. Receptionist asks for his last name and he says, "Cola." So I figured he was obviously there for an appointment with Dr. Pepper. .... Woooo hoooo. Let's get started.
Hoop Junkie
12:02
Last week's sports talk, you wanted to give the nod to Pine_Richland as the top 6A team in WPIAL, but deferred to Fox Chapel.  After a second loss in the same week after losing to Central then to Alderdice, what's your take now?  Just a bad week or is Pine not as strong as initially advertised?
Mike White
12:04
I still like Pine a lot and I still feel the same way about 6A. Really hard to say who is the best team. Central has defeated some good teams and can be a tough matchup. Allderdice still is good. Yes, Fox Chapel is undefeated. And yes, Fox Chapel might be best team. But I still say it's hard to say. I've seen FC. Very good. So are some other teams. Even talking with coaches, there are 5 or 6 teams that I think legitimately have a chance to win it.
Wpial fan
12:04
I saw what you said last Thursday that you think Butler is the best team in 6A right now. Come on mike Fox Chapel is 15-0 and you asked who did they really beat ? They beat Penn Hills 66-45 who you have number 1 in 5A. They only can play who is on the schedule, its time to give them the respect they deserve. Also they been missing key players all year
Mike White
12:06
Again, Fox Chapel could certainly win it all. But again, I don't think there is one prohibitive favorite in 6A. I've seen them the top teams. No one is clearly ahead of anyone else.
Hoop Junkie
12:06
Have you seen anyone come close to stopping Ethan Mortan?  He seems almost undefendable.
Mike White
12:08
Many have tried. Many have failed. Thing about him this year is he seems to play two different games. Early on and first half, he seems to want to get everyone involved. Then the second half, he seems to say, "OK, I'll take over now." He's had more turnovers than usual, but he's still one of the best we've had here in the past decade - and I still say one of the best passing point guards in Western Pa. in past 3 decades or so. And remember, he's 6-6.
Darnell
12:08
In the past Aliquippa petitioned to play up a class. Could they withdraw their request, get placed in A and then have them move up a class because of the PIAA's new merit system. I think they would rather be in AA than AAAA? Thanks and appreciate the chats.
Mike White
12:09
Nope it's all set now. Aliquippa lost its appeal to PIAA. The situation is really screwed up and I certainly don't agree with PIAA's decision. But it's settled now. Aliquippa lost appeal and will be in Class 4A.
jeff
12:09
early fab 5 prediction?
Mike White
12:09
I think Ethan Morton might be on it.
MLK
12:09
How much stock should we put in Butler beating #1 Penn Hills?
Mike White
12:10
Nice win for Butler. But in grand scheme of things, doesn't mean much except might help their seeding.
Georgia fan
12:10
Will the PIAA ever relent and play the PIAA finals MAYBE every other year in Pittsburgh ? Pittsburgh is not a basketball town except for the High School level. The WPIAL has/had a ton of good players for decades. The PIAA playoff would draw Hugh crowds on any night of the week. I remember the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic drawing 12,000  + back in the day. thanks for the good chat discussions.
Mike White
12:14
Don't look for PIAA hoop championships to be in Pittsburgh any time soon. First off, you have to bid to host them. Petersen Center put in a bid a few years ago, but PIAA kept the finals in Hershey. You say PIAA would draw huge crowds any day of the week. Totally disagree. I don't think crowds would be any different than they are in Hershey. Philly Catholic and Public schools have killed basketball attendance. That is one of main reasons. And playing games in Pittsburgh would do nothing to help that. And yes, I remember the Dapper Dan Roundballs quite well, being involved with the event for years. Heck, I took Penny Hardaway to Baldwin to take his SAT one year because he wasn't going to play in the event because he needed to take the SAT. So we set him up to take in Pittsburgh the day after the Roundball. I wasn't  much help. He never passed it and sat his first year at Memphis. And the Roundball drew more than 16,000 in its heyday.
Beaver Valley BB
12:15
It was great reading that Midland has named their Gym after Eddy O, a super coach, teacher, and gentleman.
Mike White
12:17
You're talking about Ed Olkowski. Yes, a legend. Love that guy. I remember watching his teams play as a kid on the old Channel 13 telecasts with Chilly Billy and Bill Hillgrove and the halftime stats with Dr. Tony Brungo. By the way, Olkowski is still second on the list of all time WPIAL basketball titles with 8.
Whike Mite
12:17
What’s your take on the Napper kid from Clairton, football and basketball standout?
Mike White
12:18
Don't sleep on Napper. ... Wooooo hoooooo. ..... Honestly, never watched him in hoops. Obviously a good athlete. Averaging 18 a game.
Mick Black
12:18
I am a north hills follower.  They have some nice wins against 5A teams but are struggling against 6A teams.  Is there that much of a difference between the two classifications?
Mike White
12:21
There is in the depth of good teams and in the depth of good teams in some sections. Want an example? One 5A section has Penn Hills, McKeesport, Laurel Highlands, Albert Gallatin, Gateway, Woodland Hills, Greensburg Salem. Compare that with Butler, Pine-Richland, North Allegheny, Central Catholic, North Hills and Seneca Valley. You tell me if there's much difference in that.
Tiger paws
12:21
I am disappointed with NA's boys mediocrity year after year.  How are they not a powerhouse every year with the enrollment and resources?  I watched the North Hills game last week.  NH is full of underclassman and blew the game, but in my opinion the better team.
Mike White
12:24
Someone in North Allegheny is not happy with the basketball program? Are they ever happy? All Dave DeGregorio did was win 20 games every season and some people didn't want him. Now comes Keith Noftz. He's done fine. Did you ever think maybe NA's talent, while decent, is not that much better than a lot of teams in basketball? Their best player would be Mike Iuzzolino but he left for a prep school.
Gball
12:26
Mike, Wouldn't it be nice if the WPIAL took a look at how the WPIHL is organized as far as classifications? Enrollment means nothing in hockey and it seems pretty fair for the majority of teams as to who they play. Hockey seems to get it right and I know the PIAA is the boss of the WPIAL but may the system has some merit.
Mike White
12:26
Maybe so. Then again, I hear people wondering how in hockey a pretty big school is playing Class 1A.
Ray
12:26
Besides of course Ethan Mortan, what players/teams(boys or girls) might be must see for the casual fan who just wants to check out a few basketball games?
Mike White
12:27
We talked about a number of the top boys teams above. As for girls, maybe check out the Chartiers Valley girls. They haven't lost since, like, 1977.
Colts Corral
12:27
Who did Chartiers Valley tick off to get the Football classification it got stuck in ? Very unfair
Mike White
12:31
Classifications are based on school enrollment. Chartiers Valley's enrollment placed them in 4A. It wasn't someone's decision. If you're talking about Chartiers Valley's conference in 4A, they will be in with Aliquippa, Blackhawk, Beaver, Montour and New Castle. What's wrong with that? Remember Chartiers Valley was 5A - and that didn't go too well. Maybe you want Char Valley in the other conference just so they could play a few tomato cans. But that conference has enough teams. I have no problem with where they will be.
Colts Corral
12:31
Given Jimbo Covert is another HOFer coached by Joe Moore why do you think USC hasn't done more to honor him ? He put the program on the map essentially
Mike White
12:31
Joe Moore was great. But what do you want USC to do to honor him? USC had another football coach who was rather successful also. I forget his name.
Hoops dude
12:31
Been quite a while since New Castle and Quaker Valley arent near the top  not even in section 2. How do you see it playing out this season
Mike White
12:33
New Castle wasn't even in our 4A rankings last week. I can't remember the last time New Castle wasn't ranked. That section is tremendous. Might be best from top to bottom. Hard to figure Blackhawk. Cougars haven't done well in non section, but they keep beating top teams in section. In the end, I think either New Castle or QV goes far again.
Bmw
12:33
What’re your thoughts on Ambridge hoops this year?
Mike White
12:33
Kudos to them. Mark Jula left and they are still winning. I think they have been a surprise.
Mike
12:34
Thoughts on who will win the girls 4A champ
Mike White
12:34
I'm going to go out on a limb and give a crazy pick ---- North Catholic.
Hoop Junkie
12:34
What about the freshman scoring 35PPG at Aquinius?  How big is he?  Is he an early call for college recruit?
Mike White
12:38
Big story on Vinnie "The Genie" Cugini coming later this week in P-G. Now averaging 33 points. We've never had a freshman boy score like this. I have not seen him, but talked to him. He's 5-10, 150. Now take it easy. He's scoring a ton and obviously is good but let's not call him a Division I prospect yet. Not knocking him, but he's playing Class 1A at a small school. Still, it's so impressive what he's doing. Other coaches have said he would be able to play at a bigger school also. He wouldn't average close to this much, but he would maybe be seeing playing time at a bigger school.
Double deuce
12:38
Mike, any guess on how things will be done in 4A having 2 sections of 8 teams & 1 with 6? Will section 1 only have 5 games  counted as section games while the other two have 7 or will something be done so that it is equal across the board?
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