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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.02.21
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Mike White
10:59
It seems like the high school basketball season is just starting to get into full gear. But hey, we're about halfway through regular season. WPIAL playoffs will probably start Feb. 27. Well, let's get started. Any questions?
Pickleguy
10:59
Hearing anything about the start of spring season possibly being pushed back a week or two since winter started later? Still would be plenty of time to get everything in.
Mike White
11:02
I have heard no such talk at PIAA or WPIAL meetings. Right now, why would you need to? State basketball championships will be over last weekend in March. That's about same time as usual. And remember, there will be fewer teams in state playoffs this year because only district champs will advance to states. So not many teams will be playing in late March. So many of those winter sport athletes will have time to get going on spring sports. It's really not much different than past years. Besides with weather, spring sports usually don't play games on regular basis until April anyway.
Dave Progar
11:02
Hi Mike, and chance Gov looses up restrictions on game attendants?  Take care
Mike White
11:07
Believe it or not, I don't have daily briefs with the Governor. So I don't know what he will do. But I will doubt if any restrictions will be loosened before end basketball season. Right now, it's a certain percentage of indoor capacity. But right now, it's schools that are choosing to have only two or three people per athlete or cheerleader at home games - and no fans. And right now, that's a good thing. But playoffs are a month away. Maybe they will loosen some restrictions - if the virus numbers go down.
WPIAL Lifer
11:07
Any insight on where WPIAL basketball title games might be played?
Mike White
11:09
No idea yet. Higher seeded teams will play at home through the semifinals. WPIAL has said it will consider Petersen, but I wouldn't expect it. With limited crowds, WPIAL could take a bath financially if they try to play games there. I don't know for sure, but I would expect high school gyms. But it sure would be nice if, say, Duquesne gave them a good price and let them play games at "The Coop." Would make Duquesne look good. Or even Robert Morris.
Blackhawk Bob
11:09
With open playoffs for basketball this year will seeding be done by section record or overall record  ?
Mike White
11:13
Both. Just like always. You'll have to look at complete resume. In some sections, teams won't play everyone in their section because of mask issue. So you'll have to look at overall season and how teams did out of section. Still, some sections will complete their entire section schedules. It will not be easy for WPIAL basketball committee, but I love the open tournament idea this season. I think it's for the best of everyone. Also, look for teams that choose not to participate because they don't have a chance. And I want to see if there will be a school board that will stand up and have their team not to participate in the playoffs because they won't play an opponent that doesn't wear masks. Pity that board with the parents.
WPIAL Lifer
11:15
Moving games out of the Pete might be a rare silver lining to COVID cloud. Everything from parking, to traffic, to spectator distance from court makes the Pete a tough venue for all but 1-2 highly attended classifications. Agreed, RMU or Duq have that high school appropriate facility for a title game. Just  my 2 cents....which is worth about 2 cents
Mike White
11:19
Agree with you somewhat. For the life of me, I still can't figure out why WPIAL won't let fans sit on bottom level of seats in end zones at Pete. C'mon. They could handle it with security. Heck, it took for a few years before they would let regular fans sit courtside on the first level. But those tickets still cost I think 20 dollars. Problem with place Duquesne or Robert Morris is crowd for larger class doubleheaders. Remember, there were times at Palumbo where a big class game would be sold out. Last few years, there have been crowds of 5 to 6,000 for Friday and Saturday night doubleheaders at The Pete. They wouldn't fit into Robert Morris or Duquesne. That's the problem.
WPIAL Lifer
11:19
Where do Spadafora and DiMichael rate in terms of best backcourts in WPIAL/City history? I'm sure they're on the radar, but impossible to definitely rate any combo through the years. Could be a nice feature story....
Mike White
11:25
Well, WPIAL Lifer, just going by "scoring," they are one of the best combos. You suggest a feature story on them. I did a big feature on them late last season calling them one of the best scoring combos. Headline on web was "one of best scoring duos in WPIAL history." In last 40 years, they were only the third combo to have both players averaging more than 22 a game. But are they one of the best backourts in WPIAL/City League history. Easy, now. While both are good, do you realize way back in 60s, 70s, 80s some of the backcourt duos in WPIAL and City? You saw some duos where both went to Division I colleges. Spadafora going to West Liberty. I really like Spadafora and DiMichele. Excellent players. And no knock on them. But as "players" - and not just scorers - I certainly can't put them among best in WPIAL/City history.
Guest
11:25
Who you got in the big matchup this week of the Islands vs. the Highlands? AG vs. LH, two programs that really got after it on the recruiting trail this offseason.
Mike White
11:28
Well, I'm not going to get into the so-called "recruiting." But two big players from the Virgin Islands just happened to show up at Albert Gallatin this year and are living with the family of AG player. Huh. What a coincidence. Strange, how that happened. Not that I'm accusing anyone of doing anything wrong. And two pretty good sophomores show up at Laurel Highlands. Huh. They just happened to play AAU with Rodney Gallagher in the past. Merely a coincidence. But hey, they are all eligible - so let's play. Laurel Highlands won the first time. I'll take LH again.
WPIAL Lifer
11:28
Play 5A-6A boys title games at the Pete; move the rest to RMU or Duq. Boom, we solved it. I'll await our invite to next WPIAL board meeting!
Mike White
11:32
It ain't so simple. First off, if you play just the 5A and 6A BOYS games at the Pete, WPIAL will probably catch some heat for not putting girls games there. Years ago, when Fox Sports Net wanted to televise only the WPIAL boys championships, they pulled out because the league wanted the girls championships to also be televised. And under your idea, it could be a cost problem again. Now you have to rent two facilities. But that would be under normal years. This year won't be normal because of COVID-19 and crowd limitations.
Private School Sympatizer
11:32
Prediction for South Allegheny and undefeated Shady Side tonight?
Mike White
11:32
South Allegheny all the way. SA is good. Shady Side is decent, I think, but I don't think they are on South Allegheny's level.
WPIAL Lifer
11:33
Fair enough, and yes, I do remember the story on them. I'd be curious to know your best backcourt over the years. For me, it's hard to beat DJ Kennedy and DeAndre Kane of Schenley (RIP). Blackhawk certainly had some awesome combo's as well. And would love to know how many 3
Mike White
11:38
Well WPIAL Lifer, we need to correct something right away.  DeAndre Kane doesn't need RIP. He's alive and well. So is D.J. Kennedy. DeAndre's Dad, a former Schenley player, passed away. Yes, Kennedy and Kane were excellent. Big-time players in college at big-time conferences. I could go on and on about tremendous duos. From Midland great teams, from Farrell great teams, from Uniontown great teams from great Beaver Falls teams. Heck, even Dante Calabria and Hal Koenemund was a pretty darn good backcourt tandem on the Blackhawk 1992 team. I don't know if you realize how many great duos there were back in the WPIAL and City League heydays.
Section 3
11:38
Did you see where 3 WPIAL kids(McKay, Hendrick, Kiriloff) recently made top 100 MLB prospects? Great to see. Maybe one day in his HOF speech, like MJ about his high school coach cutting him, Hendrick will say his motivation came from not being named to his high school all section team. lol
Mike White
11:43
Nice. You're talking about Blackhawk's Brendan McKay, Plum's Alex Kirilloff and West Allegheny's Austin Hendrick. Hendrick was just drafted last year. Let's address Hendrick making all section as a junior. The all section teams are voted on by the coaches and each team's coach nominates his own players. Did you ever think that maybe Hendrick didn't exactly have a great season. Honestly, he didn't. Those teams aren't picked on "draft potential." Hendrick hit only .327 last year as a junior with 12 RBIs. He had only 52 at-bats and missed some time with injuries. Cameron Pankyo Morris (.407) and Logan Malatak (.383) were West Allegheny outfielders with higher batting averages last year and they made all-section ahead of him. They weren't picked on draft potential or summer showcases. They were picked on how they performed that year. Maybe Hendrick didn't deserve all section because of his play on the field.
WPIAL Lifer
11:44
....how many 3's Ron Rowan would've nailed in the 1970's if the arc was there, not to mention those Midland teams of 60's & 70's
Mike White
11:45
Well, first off Ron Rowan wouldn't have made "that" many 3's in the 1970s because he graduated from Beaver Falls in 1981. But yes, the scoring for some players would've been way up if the 3-pointer was around. Can you imagine how many 3's Sean Miller would've made if the 3-point shot was around when he played?
MasterOfNone
11:46
What team, if any, can give New Castle a challenge? Do you see a team in 5A that can provide them a tougher matchup?
Mike White
11:48
New Castle is very good. Might even be the best team in WPIAL in any class. But they aren't Schenley of 2007 or Ambridge of 1967 or Midland of 1965. So can we cool it on whether they will be challenged? Geez, they just beat Lincoln Park by a point a few weeks ago and Lincoln Park is 4A. Yes, they will be challenged. When? I don't know. What team? I don't know. And they won't be challenged a bunch of times. But it will happen.
Zball
11:50
Mike, Can you give us an update on any member of the McConnell family? Haven't heard anything in 7 days. On the other hand, is Fox Chapel a serious title contender?
Mike White
11:53
Oh, sure. T.J. McConnell's new baby boy is dirtying his diaper a lot but is a good boy. How's that for an update?
WPIAL Lifer
11:53
Indeed....Miller's shooting ability in HS might be forgotten by many since we was such a pass-first point guard in college. And I remember seeing Rowan vs. New Brighton just rain them in from insane deep one night. Had to equivalent of 7-8 current 3 pointers. Good stuff. Maybe next week we chat front courts. Thanks Mike!
Mike White
11:54
I'd have to think a little but there are most certainly some good ones.
11:57
OK, time for lunch and the great wife's leftover stuffed peppers are calling me. Everyone, be good.
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