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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.29.19
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Mike White
11:03
Good morning. It's getting cold outside, but races for basketball playoffs are heating up. Regular season ends in a little more than a week. Any questions, fire away.
North side Jim
11:04
OLSH has been holding steady at number 3 in the state for 2A.  Do you know anything about the schools ahead of them, do you think OLSH should be #1?
Mike White
11:06
Constitution and Math Civics & Sciences are ahead of them. They should be. They're Philly schools that always have strong teams. Constitution beat OLSH in last year's state final and lost to Sewickley the year before. I'm not saying OLSH or Sewickley couldn't beat them, but I'd put those two ahead of OLSH most definitely.
Indian Fan
11:06
Was at the Peters-Bethel Girls Game last night, some great players on both sides.  Where would you rank Makenna Marisa as a player in recent WPIAL history?
Mike White
11:07
She's one of the best point guards from around here in at least the past decade. She's long, she can handle and she shoots a legit jump shot. Duquesne almost got her. Would've been a great get for Dan Burt. But Penn State won out. Nice get for PSU, but PSU isn't exactly lighting the world on fire with their women's team. Again, I really like Makenna's game.
Kap78
11:07
Do you think that 4A is wide open for basketball championship
Mike White
11:09
Depends what your definition of "wide open" is. I don't think 4A is very strong, in terms of depth of quality teams. I don't think there is a definite favorite, either. I would say 4 or maybe 5 at the most have a shot. The New Castle-Quaker Valley section is obviously good. But I'm wondering about Uniontown. Is this a return to glory year for Uniontown. Their section is weak, though.
Retire21
11:09
Mike....Robert Foster, who had a hard time getting on the field at Alabama, went unnoticed by the NFL, signed as a free agent in Buffalo and had a good rookie year. Saw he had honorable mention all rookie teams.
Mike White
11:11
Yep, had a great rookie year. In high school, he looked like he had body and maybe skills to be a future NFL player. Injuries cost him time at Bama. And he didn't do a whole lot there. But I think maybe Bama has had a few other receivers there who were also pretty good. Just a hunch. Still, with his lack of success at Bama, the NFL season has to be a surprise. Then again, he eventually started for Bama. And if you start there, you have to have some talent.
John Steigerwald
11:11
Looks like Knoch is just the best team in a weaker section.  Saw they were getting pounded by 25 or 30 by QV this weekend until they scored garbage points at the end of the game.  Does this means that New Castle- Ambridge- Quaker Valley will get 1 through 3 seeds in some order in Class 4A boys?
Mike White
11:12
I could see New Castle-Quaker getting seeded 1-2. We still have to wait and see what happens the rest of the way. Ambridge seems to be slipping a little. 1 through 3 seeds will all depend on what happens this final week. Right now, I would doubt those three teams get 1-3. But if Ambridge beats New Castle, you never know.
Retire21
11:12
Finishing my Foster question, could this be a lesson for local kids to stay home?
Mike White
11:13
Why? I mean, yes it would've been nice if he stayed home, just from a personal standpoint. But you don't think he maybe liked being a starter at Alabama? C'mon. There are good points for both.
North side Jim
11:13
What do you know about Summit Academy?  They are first in their section and haven't heard much about them.
Mike White
11:14
I know next to nothing about them except they seem to be decent and are in a section where there isn't a real standout. Might be them. I would say they are an intriguing team, though. Reform school with new players every year.
HouseHusband
11:15
Living in suburban Philly, I’ve seen how good Abington is in 6A. Did you have chance to see them at Woodlands Hills last week and are there any WPIAL teams that would be able to handle their two best players (Eric Dixon - Villanova; Lucas Monroe - Penn) and compete with them during the state tournament?
Mike White
11:16
I did not see Abington at Woodland Hills. And in 6A, I would not be expecting any WPIAL team to get to state finals. Kennedy Catholic is on this side of the bracket, too.
Ryan
11:16
After watching each of the top 5 teams in 4-A play the past few weeks, I feel Uniontown and New Castle are the top 2. Why has the PG been so low on Uniontown this year?
Mike White
11:17
Low on Uniontown? C'mon. We have them ranked fifth and they will move up this week, possibly as high as No. 3. Let's remember. Uniontown was 14-10 last year, didn't make the playoffs the two years before that. They are having a nice year, but it's a little of "show me" before you get put No. 2 or 1.
Joeeoj
11:18
Are you going to butler tonight?
Mike White
11:18
Yes
John M. Phillips
11:18
Mike, you called Aliquippa-Midland correct. But since then they head in different directions. Midland (Lincoln Park) is ranked #1 AAA by Max Preps. I think they take a Moon shot next week and continue on their way to N-G payback in the states. What say you Mile ? Thanks
Mike White
11:21
Moon shot??? Awwwww yeahhhh. Yes, Lincoln Park does play Moon in a non section game Saturday. Moon has a tough game with Char Valley Friday. Moon is the only undefeated team in the WPIAL. As far as rankings, we really don't care about Max Preps rankings. And I think Lincoln Park-Aliquippa will eventually have Round 3.
Jinx
11:21
Mike, looks like there has been a resurgence of Uniontown Red Raider basketball.  How good is this team?  Looks like they are going to win another section title.  I see that that are mostly underclassmen.   Could be a year away.
Mike White
11:21
I have no idea how good they are. I actually am writing a little piece on them for Friday paper. After a few down years, they are coming back up. But still have to wonder about that section. I have not seen them.
Hoopsta
11:22
Any truth to the rumor that Purdue is the leader in the clubhouse for Ethan Morton?
Mike White
11:23
I don't know about that. I do know that he likes Big 10 schools. Purdue will probably be right there, but so will Indiana and Michigan, and maybe a few others. Pitt will be in it also. I have no inside knowledge, but if I had to guess right now, I'd put money on somewhere in Big 10.
11:24
By the way, the more I watch Ethan Morton, and the more I watch film of him, he might be the best passing point guard I've seen in WPIAL in maybe 20 years or so.
UT
11:24
I keep seeing you have Uniontown at #5 in 4A all season long. How come they have not yet moved up even after New Castle/Ambridge/and QV had some losses?
Mike White
11:25
We talked about this earlier. Rankings are done the entire season. They come out Thursday. I'm sure they will move up this week.
11:26
And you Uniontown backers, you know we take everything into account with rankings. Uniontown lost to Thomas Jefferson, which is not a real good team. Also lost to Baldwin. Yes, Baldwin is 6A, but not exactly a strong team. Those losses mean something.
Northsidenightmare
11:26
Good morning. I attended the Mars - Franklin Regional boys basketball game last Friday.  Those kids from Franklin play hard and are a well coached team. How come you and others covering HS hoops dont seem to include them in discussions about the best teams in WPIAL 5A or 6A?
Mike White
11:29
I covered Franklin at Shaler game. Nice team Franklin. And they do play hard. But guess what? A lot of teams play hard. Yes, Franklin could make some noise in playoffs and probably compete with anybody. But we have to do rankings and there are no ties in rankings. Franklin is a good team. Steve Scorpion has done a great job there. Wouldn't surprise me if they made a playoff run. They did it last year. But there are a number of other good teams in 5A also.
d holzer
11:29
Hey mike, coach holzer here can my time win wpial and state championship this year?
Mike White
11:30
Oh Danny. If you do win WPIAL, your twin Frankie Avalon has promised to come to the championship parade.
Hoopsta
11:30
Are you coming to Butler tonight!!!!?!?!?!
Mike White
11:30
Yes.
6A
11:30
Mike, Dice beats Butler and Latrobe.  USC beats Dice.  Lebo beats USC.  Pine beats Lebo.  Fox beats Pine.  Latrobe beats Fox twice.
Mike White
11:30
What?
Indian Fan
11:30
Who has the best concession stand in the WPIAL, football and basketball?
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