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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.04.25
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Mike White
10:53
Let's start this thing a few minutes early. It's the final week of WPIAL basketball. Playoff spots, section titles on the line this week. A fun week. By the way, WPIAL will make playoff pairings and seedings Monday and they'll be released on a KDKA radio show Monday at 2 p.m. Now let's get started with the chatter.
40stripes-retired
10:54
Happy Tuesday, Mike.  NC Red Hurricanes at Fox Chapel tonight.  Canes win and tie the Foxes for the section title.  What says you?
Mike White
10:56
Well 40stripes, an injury could play a role in this game. Caden Kaiser, Fox Chapel's leading scorer and a real problem for teams on the inside, did not play Friday because of a back issue and I don't know his status. That would be a factor, although Fox Chapel beat North Hills without him. I really think rebounding will be the key to this game. I think I'll take New Castle.
Girls 5a fan
10:58
How does the WPIAL thinking about seeding, in girls 5a, you have Peters Township, South Fayette and Penn Trafford who are all undefeated in western PA.  Does the WPIAL look at common opponents?  Seems hard to differentiate those three.
Mike White
11:00
That's a tough call. Penn-Trafford is undefeated and Peters and South Fayette are undefeated against WPIAL teams. South Fayette is the three-time defending champ. I know this is a new season, but many times that counts for something in the WPIAL's eyes. Peters Township has the best player in WPIAL in Natalie Wetzel. I'd go South Fayette 1, Peters 2 and Penn-Trafford 3.
Mr Ed
11:00
The Joey David’s have been coming on recently, think they are a dark horse to be in 6A final?
Mike White
11:05
They are one of several teams I think has a shot to make noise in the WPIAL playoffs. Despite losing to Imani last week, I think USC is still above everyone else. After that, I see something like 6-7 teams that could beat anybody - but also lose to anybody. Mt. Lebanon is one of them. They are a different team with Liam Sheely back from hand injury. Places 2-4 in 6A Section 2 are still up in the air with Imani, Central and Mt. Lebanon. Depending on what happens, I think Lebo could be anywhere from 4 to 7 seed. And look for an interesting story on Joe David tomorrow on P-G web site.
Hsfan
11:05
There was a tweet after the Imani/USC game that said Imani does not belong to big 56, and uses their own refs and ball for home games. Is there any validity to this?
Mike White
11:06
Yes. Teams in Class 5A and 6A use a group of officials that are "Big 56" officials. Imani said no thanks. They get their own officials. They also don't participate in Hudl film exchanges, like other 5A and 6A teams. I don't know about the ball.
JC
11:06
Allderdice sleeper PIAA contender? D1 guard, great coach, solid depth.
Mike White
11:07
For at 6A state title? Ahhhhh, no way. But Allderdice can probably play with most WPIAL 6A teams.
Ghost of Duece
11:07
Have seen the Lady Lions of South Fayette for most of the season.  Impressive run with only a loss in Florida.  They go ten deep and have only 1 senior starter….should be ready for WPIAL playoffs being a #1 seed!
Mike White
11:07
Yes, we touched on this above. I think they'll end up No. 1.
Geoff Hababurger
11:08
How you feel bout that big fella dahn in St. Clair n’at? I saw him play once wasn’t impressed.  a guy his size should be dominant and be going power 5.
Mike White
11:11
You're talking about 6-10 Tyler Robbins, a Miami (Ohio) recruit. C'mon, man. The kid averages 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and shoots 58% from the field. That's a little dominant. And don't forget how his size misdirects shots and stops teams from even going to the basket. And don't forget he's a TEAM PLAYER. Does what the team needs to win - and sits a decent amount because USC blows out many teams. Just because you're 6-10 doesn't mean you're a Power 4 player.
Beatdown
11:11
I'd hate to be Hempfield and then Lebo this week. USC is gonna take losing to Imani out on them both
Mike White
11:12
We shall see. Mt. Lebanon has been known to give USC a tussle over the years. Imani game might have been a little wakeup call to USC.
BBaller
11:13
Mike, a recent article was published about Sewickley Academy and their transfer students. Although I understand that the newspapers job is to write interesting, and relevant stories, I wish we could see some investigative reporting on how this is even possible. Everyone knows SWAC has the Tull money, and what comes with it. Is it just hard to get people to talk on record about this stuff?
Mike White
11:19
You can't get records on high school students. That's private stuff. There is no way to find out if these kids are paying anything to go to Sewickley or who they might be living with, etc. Did the WPIAL investigate? Not sure. I doubt it. Coach said these kids are in Sewickley's international program. Back in 2022, Tull gave 20 million - yes, 20 million - to Sewickley Academy. In a release, Sewickley said the money, "will fund a transformative set of projects and initiatives that will significantly impact the Academy’s academic and athletic offerings and expand access to the school through an increased scholarship. program." So, go figure. By the way, Tull's two sons ae freshmen on Sewickley Academy team.
Oldskool
11:20
Are there any high school basketball coaches left that prepare their teams, put their best 5 in the game and say go play and sits down.  I find High School coaches are a distraction to the game who have to chirp at every call, stretching the coaches box as far as possible, testing officials, yelling at players. The actions of the coach sets the tone for players and fans which can lead to trouble. You don't really see the nonsense in other sports. You'd think the PIAA & WPIAL would see this and crack down a bit before something serious happens.
Mike White
11:22
Sorry Oldskool, totally disagree. The old rule that made coaches sit was silly. College coaches don't have to sit. NBA coaches don't have to sit. Major League baseball coaches don't have to sit. Basketball is a much different game than those sports, with something going on every few seconds, up and down the court. It is much easier to get a point across to your team if you're allowed to stand. Do some coaches abuse the privilege? Sure. But there were coaches who were loud and theatrical when they had to sit, too.
Inquiring Mind
11:22
Since Athletic Directors can hire themselves as Head Coach. Does that mean they get to fire themselves too?
Mike White
11:23
Funny guy. ADs do NOT hire themselves as coach. School boards still do the hiring.
WPIAL
11:24
I have a good feeling the basketball crowds at the PETE this year are going to outdraw the football crowds.
Mike White
11:27
I have touched on this before. For whatever reason, people don't go to football playoff and championship games nowhere near as much as decades ago. Meanwhile, crowds at WPIAL basketball games are still good and actually seem to be on the rise in the past 5-6 years. It might be fair to compare attendance at basketball title games with WPIAL football title games. After all, football is four games in one day. Basketball is 12 games over 3 days. But attendance past four years at The Pete for basketball finals is 20,551, 18,788, 24,719.2024 – 20,551
2023 – 18,788
2022 – 24, 719 (10,377 for five games Saturday and 10,170 for four games Friday)
2021 – GAMES PLAYED AT HIGH SCHOOL GYMS BECAUSE OF COVID
2020 – 23,200
11:28
Attendance for four WPIAL football title games the past three years ago Acrisure has been 10,761, 12,911 and 9,572.
Joe Sto
11:28
Now that SV has made it official in their hiring of a new football HC.  Can you say if it is the person you "spoke" of last week?
Mike White
11:30
Yes, I said in a notes column last week that Donnie Barclay was the leading candidate. He was hired last night. Seneca Valley grad. Former WVU player who spent 5 years in NFL, four of them protecting Aaron Rodgers with the Packers. Certainly an interesting hire, one that brings attention to Seneca just because he played in the NFL. Now we'll see how much Seneca wins and can they by chance crack NA and Central dominance in 6A?
Ghost of Duece
11:30
Are WPIAL playoff games at neutral sites or home of higher seeds?
Mike White
11:31
Higher seeds, but only for their first games.
Old Timer
11:35
This old guy doesn't have a problem with coaches standing up. But he does have a problem with players on the bench being allowed to stand up and cheer for big plays; and with officials who don't enforce the rule that only the head coach is allowed to stand. With the playoffs coming up, we are sure to see this again.
Mike White
11:36
I think the official rule is players are not allowed to stand, but that isn't enforced when players stand to celebrate a shot or something smiliar.
Old Time Official
11:36
After seeing a lot of Basketball Coaches abusing the privilege of the coaching box, why are officials so afraid of enforcing the coaching box rule?
Mike White
11:37
I think they do. I've seen them tell coaches to stay in the box. Some officials do it more than others. I also see coaches sometimes way out on the court. Not good.
New Hires
11:37
Mike, since you got all the scoop, I saw Junko is looking for assistants. What staff left or were dismissed ? Any idea ?
Mike White
11:37
No I don't. But I do know there will be new assistants.
4a
11:40
Thoughts on seeding for 4a one section has several top teams
Mike White
11:42
4A could be tough. This could change because of games this week, like North Catholic and Knoch tonight. But right now, I think I'd still put Avonworth No. 1. Belle Vernon 2. North Catholic 3. Either Knoch or Beaver No. 4 and the other five.
X and O’s
11:42
I believe that if some of the best coaches at the higher classifications coached a team in a lower classification they would be successful no matter who is on the team. (Mastrionni, David, Holzer, Blundo, Palmosina, Ackermann)
Mike White
11:43
Yes, but don't kid yourself. Put those coaches at Mapletown, or Perry, or Cornell, and let's see what they're record is.
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