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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.30.24
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Mike White
10:58
It's been quite the week. Iyanna Wade breaks WPIAL scoring record with 65 points. State record holder swimmer Joseph Roth scores 51 in a game. A coach with a good team resigns. A school fires a coach. Oh well let's get talkin'
anguma
10:58
Mike, since Southern Columbia got moved to AA in 2015, they have appeared in EVERY state championship since, why haven't they been moved up ? How will the Quips do against the top 5A teams in the WPIAL ?
Mike White
10:59
We've been through this time after time after time. To be moved up in football, you have to go far in the postseason two years in a row -- AND you have to have at least three transfers. Southern Columbia's rosters say they haven't had three transfers over two years. That's why they haven't moved up. And I think Aliquippa will definitely be competitive in 5A. But I don't know if that's the point.
anguma
10:59
Other than Lincoln Charter, which western PA hoop teams have thw best shot for PIAA gold ?
Mike White
11:01
Definitely no one in 6A. 5A has depth of good teams for around here, but I don't know if state champ. I think Aliquippa in 2A and Imani in 1A. Imani doesn't have size, but still good. As long as they don't have to play Montverde (Fla.). Don't know if you saw, but that score was rather ugly last week, as well it should be. Still trying to figure out why Montverde played them.
TW
11:01
Saw Elijah Gulliery, Moon, play last week.  Most impressive player I have seen in 5 years…great perimeter shooter with very good ball handling skills.  At 6’5”, capable to play around the hoop.  Have you seen this kid play?
Mike White
11:03
First off, it's GUILLORY. And he is very good. I think definitely one of five best players in WPIAL. Taken his game to another level this year. Yes, I've seen him in person and a number of games on film. He's scoring every which way now and really seems to be shooting the 3 very well now. I think that was something that was questionable about him in the past. He is a handful.
Brian
11:03
Any underrated players out there you’ve seen, boys or girls, who should have more college interest or maybe even some D1 looks?
Mike White
11:04
Yes, Elijah Guillory of Moon. See above.
Coach O
11:04
Mike, the one overriding issue to me about the Aliquippa situation is how can the PIAA governing body decide health and safety of students shouldn’t be a consideration for waiving the requirement of Aliquippa or any school moving up in class in a PHYSICAL CONTACT sport? Shouldn’t that be at the forefront of consideration on any issue involving students? Isn’t that what parents should expect all leaders of education to be concerned about?
Mike White
11:05
That's a very touchy issue. The PIAA put that in the rule the past year. Doesn't look good. But I don't know if health and safety is the real issue for Aliquippa.
Calvin Cambridge
11:05
Bishop Canevin’s coach threw a water bottle and got a 1 game suspension? A little extreme in my opinion. Coaches across the WPIAL curse, break clipboards, throw markers, and stomp their feet all the time. Is that just the culture we live in now? Throwing a water bottle = suspension? Or is Canevin covering up something bigger.
Mike White
11:07
Believe me, there is much more to it than just throwing the water bottle. Please don't think that is the reason -- or parents complaining about playing time. Coach pretty much said in story I did that he maybe wasn't living up to the standards of coaching at Canevin. This isn't a case of job being opened because of playing time.
Guest
11:07
Who do you consider to be real contenders in 5A Boys Hoops?
Mike White
11:10
Still say Moon is No. 1. Doesn't mean they're unbeatable but they're very good. And they have the X factor in Guillory. After them, there's a large group of teams that could be championship caliber. Like Thomas Jefferson. Saw them for second time on Saturday against Central Catholic. They were impressive. There's also Shaler, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Peters Township. Don't forget about sleepers South Fayette and Kiski Area. 5A has depth of good teams.
Sportsfan23
11:10
Mike, any opinions on Baldwin Boys. Could they make a run at 6A this year?
Mike White
11:12
Hey, there's probably 5-6 teams that could make a run in 6A because -- 6A doesn't have a really good team this year. I mean, not a favorite team. Hey, Butler is up by 20 on Seneca at halftime Friday - and Seneca wins. Upper St. Clair is one of the best teams. Baldwin proved something by beating them. I couldn't give you a favorite in 6A right now.
HOOPS
11:12
Moon vs North Hills tonight.  Who do you have?
Mike White
11:12
Not even touching that.
Mike Mo
11:12
if playoffs started today who do you think would be the top 4 seeds in 5A boys hoops??
Mike White
11:15
Oh, about 5A. I didn't mention Penn Hills. Please don't forget them. Even Woodland Hills has made some noise lately. And how about Scoop Smith? Football star just might be fastest player in WPIAL basketball. As for the top four seeds? This is just right now. But I'd go Moon, Shaler, Thomas Jefferson and either Franklin Regional or Gateway. Gateway has slipped a little lately.
Guest
11:15
Looks like Norwin and Peters girls are on a collision course - Who do you like?
Mike White
11:15
Have to admit, I haven't seen either. But I'd take Norwin.
Smitty
11:15
I caught a few games this weekend at North Hills.  I saw you on the bench for the NH v BV game.  Spill the beans.  Is the game winning play how the coach drew it up?
Mike White
11:16
Partly. It worked for part, then broke down and freshman Jackson Long just made a play and great read to kick out for open 3 to a senior.
Logan
11:16
Is Central Catholic a team of athletes or do they have legit basketball guys?  It looked the TJ was the opposite.  They had better basketball players but not necessarily better athletes.  Thoughts?
Mike White
11:18
Somewhat agree. But don't sell Central Catholic short. They have some basketball talent, too. And just because you're a top football player doesn't mean you don't have basketball talent. But TJ was rather impressive. Evan Beger is one of underrated players in WPIAL. We'll see how it goes rest of season, but he is a candidate for Fab 5 I would think.
Guest
11:19
Is Jayden Davis still on the team at Chartiers Valley?  Is he still enrolled in the school?
Mike White
11:20
Had to sit out two game suspension for being ejected. But that's up. And from what I understand he will be back with team tonight. We shall see. I've been told administration did nothing more.
TM
11:21
I don't remember coaches being fired in the middle of the season, let alone it happening at multiple schools during a season. Do you think this recent trend of AD's, Administrators, etc...not standing up for coaches will affect the number of people looking to coach in the coming years? Hard to take a job and know your boss/supervisor is going to bow to the whining parents before they go to bat for you.
Mike White
11:23
The three cases lately with Char Valley, McKeesport and Bishop Canevin are all different. From what I've been told, Char Valley administration did not back the coach. McKeesport coach resigned. Can't get all the facts there because, as usual, no one will talk. But coach might talk at some point. Bishop Canevin case, from what I've learned, had nothing to do with administration not supporting coach or parental interference. Some things apparently went on that school wasn't happy about.
BC from up close
11:23
I see a lot of people making assumptions that parents ran the coach out.  It cannot be further from the truth.  I know you have info about his treatment of the players.  Can you speak to it to clear the air?  He even admitted he wasn't living up to the BC standards.  Some of the blame should be on the admin for the hire in the first place.  Parents protecting their kids are not in the wrong.
Mike White
11:25
I agree. I just touched on it above. People always assume that, but I don't think it was the case this time. No one will go on record, but there were apparently issues dealing with the coach. Even the coach kind of said in my story that he wasn't living up to standards set.
My Valentine
11:25
Latest on CV situation?  I can't remember a time when so many in-season coaching issues/changes happening.  You?
Mike White
11:26
Agree. I think there are always coaching issues in a season. But don't remember three of them happening the way these three did. And again, I think all three are vastly different and have different set of issues and facts.
Wedge salad
11:27
Hi Mike High school hoop coaches are dropping like flies at least 3 in season changes already, is this a sign of the times or just a complete failure at the administrative level to handle the insane behavior of out of control parents.
Mike White
11:28
Touched on this above. These are three different cases and not all are about problems with parents or players. Though that is the case sometimes.
Coach O
11:28
What are your thoughts on school districts always responding with”it’s a personnel matter, can’t discuss” with regard to reasons for a coaching dismissal or resignation? I respect privacy aspect of it but by same token, it allows meddling parents, school board members, and weak administrators to hide behind it to cover up their actions. I don’t have an answer for it but it’s frustrating to see time after time.
Mike White
11:31
I agree. That's something to hide behind. On other hand, many are afraid of getting sued, maybe for defamation of character. What I find a big problem now, not just with sports, is administrators at a number of schools back down to parents so much. Either they don't want to deal with them and want matter to go away, or they're afraid of them. Why? Not sure. It's not like that everywhere, but I keep hearing more and more stories about it. But I'll tell you this much. There's a shortage of teachers I think nowadays. One of the reasons? Many of the current teachers are fed up with what they can or can't do and don't have backing of administrators. Again, not everywhere, but at some places.
Matt C
11:32
I know he gets brought up almost every week, but I watched Joe Roth play Friday night for the first time and I was in awe of how good he really was. I can't remember the last WPIAL player to put up the numbers he puts up night in and night out, let alone a 51-17-7-5-4 stat line. Crazy to think hoops isn't even his best sport.
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