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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.28.20
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Mike White
11:03
Good morning, everyone. It's a fun time in high school basketball season. Near end of year. But so strange. This feeling hangs over basketball everywhere because of Kobe. Heck, not ashamed to admit I cried a few times last few days. But let's talk if anyone wants to.
White Mamba
11:03
Does Butler clinch their first section title in 20+ years today? and will you be there?
Mike White
11:04
I will not be there. And yes, Butler clinches section with a win. Butler's last section title was in 1992. But I expect another close one.
hoop junkie
11:04
It looks like the 6A top three seeds for basketball are pretty well defined in the undefeated section leaders:  Lebo, FC and Butler.... Who is your pick or best guesses for the 4th seed and bye?
Mike White
11:05
Right now it would probably have to be Pine-Richland because they beat Upper St. Clair. Unless Pine would lose a few more games. Don't forget. If there are more than 12 teams, there might not be four byes.
Zman
11:05
Mike, In the context of next year only, don’t ya think Quips can definitely hang in their 4A conference? McKeesport interesting challenger to TJ? CV and Pine overwhelming favorites entering the season in 3A and 5A?
Mike White
11:06
Yes, Aliquippa will be fine in its 4A conference. And Central Valley has to be No. 1 going into year in 3A. Is Pine No. 1 in 5A? Probably. But remember. Gateway has a lot back from a championship team. Peters Township has a lot back from a team that lost in 5A championship. 5A is pretty darn good. A lot more interesting than 6A. Honestly, 6A will be somewhat boring. Best part might be the non conference games.
NorthSouth
11:07
Have you heard any rumors of the Peters Township Boys BB job opening up?
Mike White
11:07
Nope.
Pghcoach
11:07
6A girls looks pretty open for at least four teams (NA, MTL, BP & Norwin).  Do you have  favorite for WPIAL champ?
Mike White
11:07
Can't pick one prohibitive favorite. It's those four teams.
Basketball Fan
11:08
Butler Pine again tonight in hoops.  Can you think of a better rivalvary in the past 4 or so years then this one?  Every game is a great atmosphere, and every game seems to get somewhat heated.  Who you got tonight?
Mike White
11:09
Is it a rivalry, I don't know? It's only the past four years where they've been knocking heads and meeting in big games. And atmosphere is great. But it's not only good rivalry in WPIAL. St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon has been pretty good lately also. Even Lincoln Park-Aliquippa past few years.
Big Jerri
11:09
What is going on at West A? Have you heard anything on your end? Seems like the place is on fire
Mike White
11:10
I'm not a fireman.
Parkway
11:10
Mike- always enjoy your articles and coverage thanks.  Do you foresee more wpial football jobs opening up within the next month now that realignment is finished and banquets are over? Also any rumors on West A potential candidates?
Mike White
11:11
Yes I would bet more jobs will come open. I have no idea what's going on at West A except that Chris Lucas left after only one year -- and please don't expect Bob Palko to come back.
8/24
11:11
Will PR ever get a bigger gym? for one of the biggest schools in the WPIAL its mind boggling how few fans they can fit into that gym
Mike White
11:13
Don't know. I'm not on buildings and grounds committee at Pine. They built a new stadium years ago and renovated schools. Yes, you'd think they have a bigger gym but that's not always as easy to do as you think. Takes money.
Luke Henne
11:13
What did you think of coach Tim McConnell's 600th win on January 27th, 2020?
Mike White
11:16
The guy is one of the best coaches in the history of the WPIAL IN ANY SPORT!!!!! 600 wins in 27 seasons? That's unreal. And a winning percentage of .804. Geez. I expect the CV girls to break the WPIAL girls winning streak record. And speaking of McConnell, I've heard that two years ago a Char Valley administrator suggested to him that maybe he step away or take a year off because maybe he lost his passion some. One of the biggest jokes I've ever heard. He lost his passion? McConnell won't talk about whether that happened.
SR Coach
11:16
i knew something bad happened by the look on your face,when you told me Kobe was Tragically Killed, the game became meaningless for the moment,when the game was over i gave my son the biggest hug.  Your articles were a great tribute
Mike White
11:19
Thank you very much SR coach. I've said to myself the last few days, "Why have I cried 4 or 5 times the past few days?" It's a strange feeling. What was so strange about Sunday was that I had just tweeted "horrible news." It was about the death of former Penn-Trafford star pitcher Maclean Maund in a car accident. It couldn't have been more than 5-10 minutes when I checked my phone and someone tweeted back at me "you think that's horrible? Kobe Bryan is reported dead." Terrible day.
Gian Cuchapin
11:19
What was your favorite memory of Kobe Bryant when he was in high school?
Mike White
11:22
Well it wasn't like now when you could see highlights or games on internet. I only saw him play twice. Once in the state championship. Then in the McDonald's game. Like I wrote in a column, my favorite memory was sitting down and talking to him for a good while for a big story I was doing. This was after a McDonald's practice while we ate McDonald's for lunch at the Pitt Field House. It was just me and him. Like I have said. He seemed so genuine. So articulate. So intelligent. So loving for kids. I remember asking him, "You're 17. How'd you get this way?" He said something to the effect of his upbringing and "it's the way you're supposed to act."
11:24
It's not like I knew Kobe well, but my two favorite memories were probably after he won the state championship, him running behind the bench and him hugging his father for what seemed 30 seconds. The other was at the slam dunk contest for McDonald's game. It was the night after he and I spent a while talking for a story I was doing. I brought my two oldest sons (Mike and Sean were only 8 and 5 at the time. My youngest Danny had just been born two weeks earlier). After talking earlier in the day, I had my sons with me and he came right up to them just to say hello. He was charming. And he hugged them for a picture. My son still has that picture in his phone.
Lindsey Misci
11:25
Do you think Chartiers Valley Boys basketball team can really win the section this season?
Mike White
11:26
Well they're in first place and have a two game lead over anyone else. It's probably just me, but I'd go out on a limb and say yeah they can really win the section this season.
Nicole Bohatch
11:26
Who would you say is the best duo in both WPIAL Girls and Boys basketball?
Mike White
11:28
For boys offensively, I'd say Ethan Morton and Devin Carney of Butler and Jake DiMichele and Dante Spadafora of OLSH. For girls, you'd have to look at McConnell and Malcolm at Char Valley, Westphal and Dziezgowski at Bethel, Myers and Lewandowski at North Catholic, although I don't know why but it seems Lewandowski isn't scoring as much this year. I don't know the situation there. Has she been hurt?
Corbin Miller
11:29
What was your favorite memory of Penn-Trafford standout pitcher, Maclean Maund?
Mike White
11:29
I really didn't know Maclean. But from all reports, was a wonderful kid. Such a sad story also.
Jared Mero
11:29
I think Fox Chapel's Boys basketball team is still undefeated at 17-0. Can they make a serious run to win 6A?
Mike White
11:31
No. They are 17-0 but can't make a run at a championship. C'mon, man. Obviously they are very good. Will they win it all? I've said all along I think there are probably 5 teams that have a legitimate chance to win it all. They are one of them. Fox Chapel's section is weak, but so what? Doesn't mean Fox Chapel is weak. But I don't know yet who I would pick to win it all. I want to see the last few weeks.
Caroline Kucko
11:31
We still need to finish this WPIAL basketball season, but is there an eighth grader that you happened to hear about that can be "The Next Big Thing" next season?
Mike White
11:32
Yes, a kid named Lew Alcindor. He's supposed to be like 6-9 already. Not sure what school he goes to. Somone told me Power Memorial Charter.
Kelly Pecora
11:32
Central Catholic's Boys basketball player, Ben Sarson, is the main attraction on the team. If he went to public school, where would he have gone?
Mike White
11:33
I have no idea. Why does it matter?
Kaleigh Flavin
11:33
Can Mars boys basketball team still have a shot in winning WPIAL Class 5A Section 3?
Mike White
11:34
Well Mars is one game behind Shaler with a few left to go. So call me crazy but I'd say Mars still has a shot to tie for the section title.
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