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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.06.24
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Mike White
10:55
Hey everyone. Just a couple items of interest in case you are going to ask: 1. The WPIAL basketball pairings and seedings will come out Monday. 2. The new WPIAL football conferences will be released Feb. 19, when the board approves them. Conferences are made by football committee. The schedules won't be released then, I don't think. OK, let's proceed with your "chattiness."
LeboKid
10:55
Good morning, Mike. You've done a terrific job reporting on this story, but I'd like to clarify a couple of points about Aliquippa's move to 5A. The school district, of course, had legal counsel. Do you know the name of the firm? Is the WPIAL, as an entity, permitted to provide expert witness testimony on behalf of the team/district with respect to the transient nature of the district, or does the PIAA consider that to be a conflict of interest? The most stunning aspect of this is that Aliquippa CHOSE to play up in classification, and yet are still punished beyond imagination. Just an incredible development. Thanks, Mike.
Mike White
10:57
  1. I can't remember the name of law firm. 2. Aliquippa is bumped up because of the PIAA competition classification formula. WPIAL has nothing to do with it. And no, the WPIAL wouldn't speak on Aliquippa's behalf because WPIAL made no ruling on this. It's all PIAA. Aliquippa presented the case by themselves.
Quips Fan
10:57
With the two kids leaving central to go back to Aliquippa does that count as a 2 transfers for the next cycle? Even if they are coming back to there home district?
Mike White
10:58
Yes, the two transfers count in the next cycle. They have nothing to do with the bump-up this time. By the way, Aliquippa still plans to take appeal to court.
Big 56
10:58
Looks like WPIAL is going to stay "Status Quo" and schedule all football games for teams (besides week 0). Not sure they even gave the Fox Chapel proposal a chance? You wrote a nice article on it.. curious to what your honest opinion was? 7 Teams in 6A is not ideal. The combo 5/6A gave a chance for more conferences and geographic games to mean something.
Mike White
11:01
Conferences will be released in two weeks, Feb. 19. From what I understand, it looks like they will keep the conferences separated in 6A and 5A. I think the Fox Chapel idea had some good ideas. Some good points. I liked some of it. Like any new proposal, there had some things you could poke holes in. Although WPIAL created a committee to discuss it, I thought the chances of WPIAL going to a point system in 5A or 6A were very slim, at best. I just don't see the WPIAL going all in on making such a big change.
LeboKid
11:02
Lebo hoops question for you, Mike. Had the opportunity to watch the Mt.L - USC game the other night, and Liam Sheely is a heck of a player. Was Lebo considered to be one of the 6A favorites, or has this season's performance been largely unexpected? Can't recall a great deal of advanced publicity about this team. Thanks, Mike.
Mike White
11:04
Well kid, 6A now is like many thought it would be at the start of the season. I think it's pretty open - and I know many coaches would agree. In fact, 6A is probably a little down this season, in terms of not having really good teams. There are some good teams definitely. Just not any powerhouses. Mt. Lebanon is obviously good. You might like them to win it all. But there are a few other teams that have decent chance also, I believe. Was Lebo a surprise? Well, we had them No. 4 in 6A going into season. So I don't think you can say they were a big surprise.
North2South
11:04
Are the 2 players who are leaving PCC to go home to Aliquippa considered transfers?
Mike White
11:07
Yes. What else would you call them? When you attend one school, leave and go to another, that is called a "transfer." There is "transfer" paperwork. Schools get record requests for "transfer" when a kid goes to another school. I know the two kids have lived in Aliquippa. But they went from one school to another. Go look up definition in dictionary. That's one of the meanings for transfer. Go look in PIAA by-laws. That's a transfer.
North2South
11:07
Have you seen Allderdice boys play?  Thoughts on their chances in the PIAA playoffs?
Mike White
11:09
Only saw them in the fall. They are good. Major Rainey hasn't played lately. Maybe he is hurt? I really like Logan Golle. I would say they might be as good as any 6A WPIAL team. Maybe. It wouldn't surprise me if they won a couple PIAA games. It wouldn't surprise me if they lost early. I believe they will have to play a sub-regional first, though, and McDowell likely will be in that sub-regional. McDowell is good.
4A
11:09
Knoch is an interesting team in the playoffs, starting 4 sophomores, they have great wins over Deer Lakes, South Fayette, Highlands and Mars.  A head scratching loss to Freeport, I guess just a young team.  How do you see there week going with Hampton and Highlands, then can this young group win a playoff game or 2?
Mike White
11:10
Yes, I believe they can win a playoff game or maybe two. But 4A is pretty good. They will certainly be challenged. It won't be easy for them to win a few playoff games.
Coach B
11:10
Are teams competing in their 1st or 2nd year in the WPIAL eligible for playoffs or is their a trial period?
Mike White
11:11
They are eligible.
Joe F
11:11
How do tie breakers work for bball playoffs?
Mike White
11:13
Four teams from each section go to playoffs. If two or more teams tie for a playoff spot, head-to-head breaks the tie. If they tie in head-to-head, they all go. If three teams tie for a playoff spot for third place and one of the teams is 3-1 in head-to-head, they get third place. The system then reverts back to head-to-head for fourth.
Ballerz
11:13
Any more news on Sensor at CV? Was he fired? Is he done for the rest of the year? Will he be back next year? Feel bad for him that he gets no support and has to deal with the Davis saga. Admin is too afraid of parents and coaches suffer. Sad.
Mike White
11:14
No news. As was reported, he was placed on "administrative leave." No, he will not be back this year. And I would seriously doubt he will be back next year. Even if Char Valley said he could come back, would you go back if you were him? No way, not after what the administration did to him.
Ballerz
11:14
imagine NH with James, Thomas from LP, and Big Royce… oh what could have been…
Mike White
11:15
Oh well. Only need to think about who you have -- not who you don't have.
Colts Fan
11:15
Mike, Do you think that Chartiers Valley will have a hard time finding a quality basketball coach for next season? Davis and his family have another year left at CV and administration has demonstrated that they do not support their coaches. Why would anyone be interested in that job?
Mike White
11:16
I think there might be one or two of his assistants who would want the job. They all stayed.
Ballerz
11:16
Are rumors true on Palko applying for AD job at West A? Why in the world would want to do that?
Mike White
11:16
All I can tell you is that there has been no contact with him for an interview. So maybe that says something.
North2South
11:17
Does Mt Lebanon have a football coach yet?
Mike White
11:17
No.
Rikki
11:17
Hi Mike: Super fan of yours. New Castle has an abundance of freshmen and sophomores. Can Coach Blundo return the glory back next year?
Mike White
11:17
They will definitely be better next year.
ShalerAlum
11:17
All I keep hearing about is how solid the Shaler Boys basketball team is? Do they have a chance to win it all?
Mike White
11:19
Shaler is good. Yes, I would say they have a chance to win it. Senior-dominated team. This is the year they've been waiting for. I still think Moon is No. 1 in 5A, but not unbeatable. Not many teams are. And in a one-game situation, you never know. I think Shaler is as good as any other teams after Moon.
Curious
11:23
Can a girl try out and play for a boys team in middle school or high school?   Who enforces that rule- the school? WPIAL? PIAA?  I think I remember a story of a girl playing on a boys varsity basketball team a few years ago.
Mike White
11:25
A girl can only play on a boys team if that school does not offer the sport for girls. For example, girls play football beause there is no football team for girls. Some girls play on boys golf teams if the school doesn't have a girls golf team. But for example, a girl can't play on a boys basketball team if the school has a girls team. Got it?
Ryan
11:25
Mike does Mars get this win tonight on senior night For Ryan Remi Elias and Ian Go PLANETS 🏀🏀🪐🪐
Mike White
11:25
I think it will be close. Guard play will be key and how well Mars shoots it.
Youth Coach
11:25
I read your article on the Aliquippa transfers.  Are you sure it’s accurate? I coached Brooks in 4th grade and he was in Catholic schools and lived in the city until at least 7th grade.  Moon as we know has been shopped around by his dad for years so I am not sure where they live.
Mike White
11:26
Well I was told by everyone, even last year, that Moon lived in Aliquippa. They have to live in Aliquippa or they couldn't go to school there.
WPIAL Lifer
11:26
Will basketball playoffs still feature home games for the higher seed for rounds lower than semifinals this year? Thanks Mike.
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