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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.04.20
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Mike White
11:28
Complain, complain, complain. Chuck Crummie won like 2,000 games, but he wasn't good enough. Gotta get rid of him. New coach Brian Urso has Central at 12-9, 5-4 in section. They have won five of eight. They could finish second in section if they beat Pine-Richland tonight. Central has defeated Mt. Lebanon (No. 3 in 6A), Penn Hills (No. 1 in 5A) and Pine-Richland (No. 5 in 6A). They've played few other top teams tough. But apparently that's not enough. You know, Central was 5-17 last year? Now they're 12-9. And OK, I'll be honest. Did you ever think that maybe there isn't exactly a ton of talent on that team? Some decent players. Sarson does some good things. But Central isn't going to beat the top teams on talent alone. And did you ever think that maybe North Catholic might be better than Central?
11:29
And one last thing. Tim McConnell isn't going to Central. Why would Brian Urso leave a college job for a high school job and leave after a year?
Buddy Fiedler
11:29
Will the Moon Township parents/residents attend the next school board meeting and get a real answer to Coach pwell's firing??
Mike White
11:30
I don't know. I don't have the Moon parents "to do list" handy.
Hoop Junkie
11:30
What do you think of Boys Baskeyball section that contans Mt Lebo.  Every year it seems that Peters Twp underperforms...why do you think this happens consistently?
Mike White
11:31
I don't know if they underperform. They were 16-8 last year. Won a playoff game. Almost beat Pine-Richland in quarterfinals. When you have Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair in your section, it's not easy.
North side Jim
11:32
Who's the biggest competition for OLSH boys to get to state finals this year?
Mike White
11:35
Well, it would be shocking if OLSH didn't win WPIAL. But hey, they only beat Laurel, 66-63, recently. So they will get challenged. As far as rest of state. Well Bishop Guilfoyle beat them in semis last year and Guilfoyle is 16-1 this year. Couldersport from District 9 also seems decent but you wonder sometimes about Dist. 9 teams. Eastern part of state still has Math Civics & Sciences and others.
Guest
11:35
What's your take on the Moon firing ? Is it another McCurry/Render thing or is it legit ?
Mike White
11:37
We discussed it some above. Moon administrators apparently had their reasons, even if you don't feel they're legit. Apparently, they had backing of school board also. Remember, administrators sometimes don't go against school board member wishes? Why? Because they're worried about keeping their job. Not saying that happened here. But it has in other cases.
4A2 fan
11:37
Social media, we talk to each other. We came up with 15 names of players who would be legitimate all-psection players. Usually only two teams are selected.
Mike White
11:37
What classification are you talking about? Boys or girls?
Guest
11:38
If you were the Moon coach would you pursue legal action ? I would
Mike White
11:39
No. If they don't want me, so be it. Although it does damage your reputation.
4A2 fan
11:39
WPIAL 4ASection 2
Mike White
11:40
Yes, a number of good players. But it isn't the first time a number of good players are in a section. At Post-Gazette we pick five player all section team. What we've always done. Coaches vote. So be it.
Georgie
11:40
Hi Mike, I have a couple boys playing multiple sports in high school.  I saw that Rachael Martindale from NA was the PG Softball Player of the Year and has gone on to play basketball at Akron.  Are you aware of any boys that were the POY in one sport and played a different sport in college.
Mike White
11:42
Rachel Martindale tore her ACL at Akron and is done for the season. Sad to hear that. As far as players of the year playing another sport? Terrelle Pryor comes to mind right away. He was our player of the year in hoops in 2008.
Peter
11:42
Your reaction to NA Football not scheduling any WPIAL non-conf games?  Pine-Richland said they want to play them but NA is ducking them.
Mike White
11:44
Don't like it. I know it helped WPIAL in scheduling because it made for even number of teams. Just my opinion, but they should've been given at least one non conference game like everyone else. Early January when WPIAL had meeting with coaches/ADs, they put up a sample schedule. Tentative. It had NA playing Pine-Richland. WPIAL said that schedule was not final but it's what they had at the time. Obviously, it changed. NA AD Bob Bozzuto says he doesn't want to play 5A schools. Doesn't do any good for a team like NA.
Mr.rox
11:44
How good is sto rox?they started out slow but now won 10 in a rox?
Mike White
11:45
They're pretty good. Could make some playoff noise but I don't see how OLSH doesn't win Class 2A.
Bingo
11:45
How would you compare WPIAL basketball now to how it was 10 years ago? Is competition/talent trending up or down?
Mike White
11:47
About the same. We haven't had many Division I players for decades. This isn't just now. But we had two top 100 players in country here recently in Puff Johnson and Ethan Morton. Certainly it isn't tremendous but I don't think it's really any different than 10 years ago. Now it's definitely different than 30 years ago and before.
Guest
11:47
Who are your dark horses in boys and girls 6A's and should I go ahead and buy a ticket to see Char Val at the Pete ?
Mike White
11:48
Char Valley boys and girls are in 5A, so if you buy a ticket to see 6A finals, you will not be seeing Chartiers Valley.
Will McBride
11:48
Bethel Park has one of the best gyms in WPIAL, any reason why they don't host basketball playoff games
Mike White
11:48
I really don't know the answer to that. That has been asked before. I'm not sure. But I agree with you. Great gym. Remember, schools have to want to host games. WPIAL can't make them.
6A
11:49
Mike, who gets in? Norwin? Connellsville? Latrobe? All of them?
Mike White
11:50
Depends on what happens tonight and also Friday. Bottom line is Norwin is in tonight if they beat Penn-Trafford. Norwin can still make it with a loss. Latrobe plays at Hempfield Friday. That still might mean something.
Central defender
11:51
5th and Neville sounds like a Crummie fan and a Crummie spokesperson.  The Crummies and crew were well past their sell by date.  They Left the cupboard bare and this staff still have a better record than last year.   It was a dumpster fire and now better....Mike, if Central beats Pine tonight, where would you think they would seed for playoffs?
Mike White
11:51
There wasn't a whole lot in the cupboard last year at Central, either. To me, I think they've done well this year.
Zman
11:52
Do you think Jeffress kid is good enough to make immediate impact at the ACC level?
Mike White
11:53
I have never seen a full game of his in person. Only highlights. And from reports of people who have seen him play. He's very good. Depends on what you believe is "immediate impact?" Does that mean averaging 13-14 a game as a freshman? I don't see that. But he can play.
6A
11:53
When does the WPIAL lay out the Section alignments for next season?  (basketball)
Mike White
11:55
It will be a while. Probably not until after state playoffs. This year is unlike other years because of the new PIAA competition formula, where teams have to move up in class if they go far two years in a row and have a transfer. There are a few WPIAL teams that could affect. But you won't know until after state playoffs. That's why they delay.
Moon man
11:55
Let's not forget Moon had Jeff Ackerman. All he did was win three WPIAL titles and a PIAA title. After a couple of down years, he was let go. I was told parents complained he was too tough. There have been other Moon coaches in less visible sports who had success and were let go when the administration changed.
Mike White
11:56
Yes, Ackermann won three WPIAL titles. Had a few down years and then was let go. Not the same AD or administration now.
6A
11:56
Mike, have you ever been to Fayette County?  My guess is no.  We got a great wing place in Bud Murphy's and a pretty decent hoop team in Uniontown... We're located on the other side of Westmorland County...
Mike White
11:57
No, where is Westmoreland County anyway? And Uniontown is in Fayette County.
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