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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.03.26
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Mike White
10:56
One week left in WPIAL hoops regular season. Pairings and seedings will be released by WPIAL next Monday. All section games must be completed by Saturday. I'm sure there will be a lot of basketball questions, so let's get going.
WPIAL dude
11:00
6A section two is very tight as well.  Does Imani or Norwin get left out of the playoffs?
Mike White
11:03
You're talking 6A boys. Right now, Norwin and Imani are tied for fifth and final playoff spot at 5-7. Norwin has Canon-Mac and Hempfield left while Imani has Mt. Lebanon and Central Catholic. I would say odds are Imani loses both games. And odds are Norwin beats Canon-Mac. tonight. If Imani loses both and Norwin beats Canon-Mac., Norwin is in and Imani out. If by chance Norwin and Imani tie for final spot, they both go because they split head-to-head.
WPIAL dude
11:03
I am looking around the wpial at the players who got a fake offer from D1 programs last year.  I am not going to name names but the d1 offers did not age well.  At best one of the players had a solid/respectable season while the others have been average at best.
Mike White
11:05
I'm not going to get into these "fake" offers, although I know what you mean. I'm also not going to name names, but a few of the kids who might have gotten a D-1 offer, I don't think will be going D-1. But I'm not going to fault the kid. It's not their fault they got offered.
WPIAL dude
11:05
Why are so many of the "top prospects" on teams that have poor records?  I tend to think that although they are top prospects they are not great team players.  Thoughts?
Mike White
11:06
Like who? Lincoln Park's Josh Pratt is probably the best in the senior class and his team is one of the best in 5A. Aaron Webb of Indiana is the top prospect in junior class and Indiana is fighting for playoff spot. That's not unusual. Do you know Indiana has had very little success over the years, except the year they won WPIAL.
Mr Ed
11:06
As a coach yourself Mike, would  you let your team run up the score on an inferior opponent in an attempt to have one of your players reach a personal record. Is it worth that trade off? I’m referring specifically to Geibel girls coach and mother of star player Emma Larkin playing her the entire game of a 106-17 win. They were up 76-15 after three but left her in the entire 4th quarter going for 64 point record.
Mike White
11:12
You're talking about the Geibel-Mapletown game last Thursday. Emma Larkin of Geibel scored 62 points, tying for second-most in WPIAL history. I shouldn't be surprised because there are still a number of coaches in all sports who just don't "get it" when it comes to sportsmanship or humility. I'll be blunt. I find it appaling what went on in that game. I hate to criticize a lot because it goes against Emma Larkin. She's a teenage high school girl. A very good player. I don't wnat to crush her. But what the coach allowed to go on is ridiculous. And the coach is her mother. What in the world did you prove? (More on next post with some facts).
11:19
Here are some facts on that Geibel-Mapletown game. You tell me if this is bothersome to you. Geibel won 106-19. Geibel coach Sara Larkin said it was "senior night" and she only has seven players so she let Emma play whole game. OK, but what about this? Leading 76-17 after three quarters, Geibel outscored Mapletown, 30-2, in the fourth. You really have to go at it hard to score 30 points in the fourth quarter with a running black. Emma Larkin had 18 points in the fourth quarter. I saw a couple highlights. Geibel's defense was at half court, stealing passes, fast breaking for layups. Really? Remember, Mapletown has two wins all years and doesn't even average 20 points a game. Emma Larkin took 44 shots in the game. But there's more: Three of the seven players on Geibel's team didn't score a point. According to Geibel stats, one of those players didn't even attempt a shot. The other two attempted only four apiece.
11:24
I know if I'm coaching that team, I would've instructed them: No fast breaks. I want at least 7-8 passes before we attempt a shot. Defense doesn't come past 3-point line. And don't steal the ball. And in fourth quarter, the girls who haven't scored, they get the shots. Mapletown coach told me she had no comment on the game. That tells you enough. And please don't give me the junk that Mapletown "should just get better." It's Mapletown. They don't even a stop light or a gas station in their district. They have to work just to have a team. Girls might just want to play. Get better? Please. How about have a little humility. And maybe this tells you all you need to know. The Mapletown AD contacted the Geibel AD. The Geibel AD sent back a text that said, "I apologize on behalf of the school." So there, even the AD at the school thought it was wrong.
11:28
But should be be surprised at the Geibel situation? I have a story right in front of me from 2003 when Clairton's Kamela Gissendanner scored 60 points in a game. At the time, it tied for second-most in WPIAL history. Clairton won the game over Winchester Thurston, 123-24. WT coach said Gissendanner didn't exit game until one minute left. Clairton lead at halftime, 69-6, and still was using a full-court press in second half. Gissendanner score all of Clairton's 19 points in third quarter and seven more in fourth. My point is, this lack of sportsmanship and lack of humility has been going on around high school and youth sports for a long time. Because some coaches just have no awareness and just don't get it.
WPIAL dude
11:28
Section 1 is a wild one.  Log jam to say the least.  Pine is trending up and while Butler and NH are trending down.  The teams who play as a "team" seem getting better as the season goes on while the others are inconsistent at best. What teams do you think get left out in section 1?
Mike White
11:30
It's crazy in this section. You're in second place, lose one game and drop to fifth. New Castle is the only team that has clinched playoff spot. After them, Pine is 6-5, Seneca Valley 6-6, Woodland Hills 6-6, Fox Chapel 6-7, North Hills 5-6, Butler 4-8 and North Allegheny 3-9. Pine is definitely trending up. Playing really well. Shooting it really well, especially Grant Spacciapolli. There are so many scenarios for this last week.
JT
11:31
Who has a chance in Boys 6A basketball to player spoiler or be a Cinderella in the WPIAL tournament? Pine Richland? Fox Chapel? Mt. Lebo?
Mike White
11:32
The top three teams are clearly - in no order - New Castle, Upper St. Clair, Central Catholic. It will be interesting who gets No. 1 seed. If New Castle and Upper St. Clair win its final games, I think it has to be one of those two. I don't know who I'd pick. I think you have to let this week play out.
brackets
11:33
How do you think 6A boys shakes out for the top seeds?  NC lost to Pine, USC and Central split, Central has one other early season loss.  Assuming they all win out this week.  The 4 seed is just whoever finishes 2nd in the North section?
Mike White
11:36
Look above. I touched on who should be No. 1. If New Castle and USC win out, I say one of those, because they both have one loss and Central two (to USC and Moon). Don't be so sure about the second-place team in North section getting the No. 2 seed. If Pine-Richland wins out, I would probably say them No. 4. But you can't discount Mt. Lebanon. Let's wait and see what happens this week.
Bob
11:38
Who do you think gets the last playoff spot in section 2 4a? Avonworth, Ambridge, or Beaver?
Mike White
11:39
Avonworth. They already have two more wins than Beaver and Ambridge and beat both.
MckTigerFan
11:39
5A is loaded this year on the boys side. Who is your favorite right now to win it all?
Mike White
11:40
I said it at beginning of year and I'll stick with them - Chartiers Valley. Although shoulder injury to Julian Semplice is a little concerning. He looks like he has trouble raising his arm to shoot. But they just had a nice win over Lincoln Park. CV deserves No. 1 seed. And I really like the Federico kid, a sophomore. About a 6-4 guard who will get bigger. Already good. Just got offered by La Salle. Will probably get more offers.
frank the tank
11:41
any news on the open position in the wpial office? i saw it was posted in november but the website still lists it as tbd on the staff page
Mike White
11:41
No idea.
QuakerHigh
11:41
Do you think there is any chance Quaker Valley gets the 1 seed in boys’ 4A?  If NC and Knoch split, QV would likely be only undefeated section champ.
Mike White
11:42
You could probably make a point for Quaker Valley. Myself? I would go with Knoch, unless North Catholic would by chance blow them out tonight, which is doubtfu.
Ryan
11:42
Who wins tonight’s Kiski vs plum game i think the cavaliers win and who wins Mars vs Lincoln park i think mars win
Mike White
11:42
Kiski and Lincoln Park
5a
11:45
With Montour winning last night what does that do for that section?
Mike White
11:48
Well, Montour definitely has a shot now. Montour is 5-6 with a game left vs. Moon. Mars is 5-5 with two games left vs. Chartiers Vlaley and Lincoln Park. Good chance Mars loses both, and Montour loses to Moon. In that case, Mars and Montour tie for final playoff spot with 5-7 records. Both go to playoffs because they split head-to-head.
Jim
11:48
Any word on Bob Palko returning to West A?  Thanks!
Mike White
11:48
Possibility. We'll know in next week or so.
Three Peat
11:48
Do USC Boys make it a three-peat ?
Mike White
11:48
They have a shot.
Mr Ed
11:48
Bottom line to me Mike, on the Geibel game and in general when parents seek to promote their child’s interest above all else, they say it’s for their kid’s benefit but in reality it’s for the parent’s benefit and ego. I don’t know Emma but I bet that young lady has enough class not to go around crowing about scoring 60 on an outclassed opponent.
Mike White
11:49
Your opinion. I've already said enough on this chat about it.
Hoops Time
11:49
Uniontown's Isaac Ellsworth went over 1000 career points last week against McKeesport in the win.  Over 200 career threes with most of those coming in last two years as a starter.  Uniontown had four 1000 point scorers on their 2024 team.  Pretty rare.
Mike White
11:50
Extremely rare. Ellsworth is undoubtedly one of the top 3-point shooters in WPIAL last two years. Unheralded, though.
BillBr
11:50
Great article last week about the decline in participation in Girls BB and lopsided score. I am sure those two factors can be seen across all sports?

Also absent of more kids competing - what can the WPIAL or PIAA do about the non-competitiveness of games? I would be interested in hearing your opinion
Mike White
11:51
Really hard to give answer on non-competitive games. WPIAL is aware and look for possibly in football to have smaller conferences and more non-conference games, matching teams of similar competitiveness.
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