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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.08.22
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Mike White
11:00
Good morning. Less than a week left in basketball regular season. Pairings and seedings will be announced by WPIAL Monday at 5. So let's talk.
Natedog
11:00
When will the football schedules be released,
Mike White
11:02
Don't know. WPIAL was going to do it Friday, but held off because of situation with one school. That would be Aliquippa. Quips won an appeal and will not be bumped to 5A, but they want to be in 3A. Stay tuned on this one. that's why WPIAL decided to wait. Should be out soon, though.
Trojan Army
11:02
I've noticed Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park hasn't played for them since mid-January?  Did he transfer back to North Hills (or somewhere else).  Lincoln Park can't contend for a 4A title without him.
Mike White
11:03
No, he is still at Lincoln Park. He has been injured. That's why he has been out. He expects to be back.
Trojan Army
11:05
Mike, Shouldn't North Catholic be the 1 seed in Class 4A Boys'?  They played a tougher schedule than Quaker Valley and should be rewarded.  Seems like everyone is sleeping on them.
Mike White
11:08
Sleeping on North Catholic? C'mon, man. We have them ranked No. 2 in 4A. How is that sleeping on them? I think everyone knows they are very good. Only one loss. Could you make a point for them being No. 1? I don't know. They've been impressive, but they started the season in lower 5 and moved up. Hard to knock QV out of No. 1 without a loss. You say North played a tougher schedule than Quaker. You can debate that. North lost to Central and played Gateway, Pine-Richland and Seneca. Definitely good schedule, but North's section is so much weaker than QV. Besides beating Montour and Lincoln Park twice, QV also beat a very good Highlands team, and Kennedy Catholic and a not too bad Char Valley team. I'd still have QV one and North two.
Planet Uranus
11:08
If Mars takes care of business vs. Highlands tonight, they have to be the 3 seed in 5A, right?
Mike White
11:09
Yes, I believe so. Even if they lose, you could still make a point for them being No. 3.
Tommy Boy
11:09
Any recruiting updates on local players, esp those from QV?   Are they getting any power 5 considerations?
Mike White
11:10
I have a bigger feature on Adou Thiero and Markus Frank running later this week. One of best scoring tandems in WPIAL in 40 years. A few more D-1 teams are expressing interest now in Adou. A few D-11 schools are now expressing interest in Frank.
Pants
11:11
Earliest day that you think basketball playoffs will start? Feb 14 are pairings and last reg season date...
Mike White
11:11
Most likely Feb. 18. They always start them on a Friday. I see no reason to change this time. Pairings and seedings announced Monday at 5.
Hammer Time
11:11
What seems to be the deal with Meleek Thomas from Lincoln Park? As one of the top freshman, he hasn't been seen in the box scores. I've heard he is healthy but is holding out because he doesn't want to risk injury for AAU.
Mike White
11:12
Read above. I answered that.
Coach O
11:12
You have seen them both play. Who would you pick if OLSH and Bishop Canevin played?
Mike White
11:12
Man, that's a tough one. Would be excellent game. I think I'd go OLSH slightly.
LeboKid
11:13
Good morning, Mike. Enjoyed reading your article about a subsection of ADs pushing the WPIAL to stop scheduling public schools against Catholic/private/charter schools. Can you clarify what Amy S. from the WPIAL said? "But if there are concerns or issues, now is the time to discuss them and look at them for the following two-year cycle.” Help us to understand what this two-year cycle is and why changes can't be implemented in the midst of it. And what's  your rationale for commenting that the only way for these protesting schools to gain any leverage is to forfeit games? Seems as though the participating athletes - both public and private/Catholic - are the only ones suffering in that scenario. Thanks, as always, Mike. Terrific coverage.
Mike White
11:17
What she means is WPIAL realigns conferences and sections in all sports every two years. Fall sports alignments for next year are pretty much done, except for a delay in football schedules. It's too late for anything to be done for next two-year cycle, at least in fall sports, because things are set. It will take a lot of time and discussion for a such a change to be made with private-public schools. Long time. I don't think it will be ever made. But it can't be made this quickly. As far as what I meant is this: I really don't believe WPIAL will ever separate public and private, even for regular-season games. They will listen, but I don't see that change ever being made. What I meant was that if these public schools and ADs really want to catch attention and prove they're serious, then they should refuse to play games against private-Catholic-charter schools.  And don't think that some ADs aren't thinking of that.
Rooter
11:17
Hi Mike, well let's get it out of the way at the start.  Thoughts on the coaching hire at PR?  Was coach K ever a serious candidate for the position?
Mike White
11:18
Jon LeDonne had really good run at Penn Hills. I think he might do well at Pine. Kasperowicz apparently was never a serious candidate. He never got an interview, for whatever reason.
Munhall Mike
11:20
Good morning, Mike. I got to see two of the top Jrs players battle last week. Makhai Valentine may be the best athlete in 3A, very impressive. Connor Spratt shocked me, he is on another level. Took over the game. Kept hitting contested shots with our two best defenders chasing him. Found his teammates for easy buckets. Made his 28 seem effortless as Seton surprised our fans and cruised to an easy victory. Other than Rodney, is Spratt having the best Jr Season?
Mike White
11:21
Yes, Connor Spratt has emerged this year as a top player. Very good. But easy now. Chill a little. "The best junior season?" Let's say one of the best and leave it at that. I mean Vinnie Cugini is averaging around 34-35 again. You've got Dante DePante at Central Catholic, Keondre DeShields at Laurel Highlands, Jimmy Kunst at Highlands, Epps at South Allegheny. They're all juniors, too, and having really good seasons.
jaguar's fan
11:22
I see that Trinity Girls team is listed as only 1 lose on the year,  I know that they have 2.  They lost in Maryland, is the WPIAL aware of that?  It could effect they seating in the playoffs.
Mike White
11:23
I just heard last week about they might have one more loss. We have to confirm that. But I seriously doubt that one more loss to a team in Maryland will affect their seeding.
Steve
11:23
Thoughts on the upcoming girls basketball game between Lebo and USC on Thursday?
Mike White
11:23
Lebo wins.
Fan Man
11:23
Some teams are going to have long layoffs before their first playoff games.  I know some teams scrimmage to fill that hole of time, but can teams actually schedule exhibition games past next Monday?
Mike White
11:24
Only if you aren't in playoffs and haven't played your full allotment of 22 regular season games.
Hoops lover
11:24
If I am correct CV girls just recorded their 100th win under coach McConnell 100-5 in 4 years.  Not a lot of players play 4 years with 100 wins.
Mike White
11:27
Yes, that McConnell guy now has 100 wins in four years as CV coach. Impressive indeed. I think Malcolm might be the only one who started all four years. But there are girls with more than 110 wins in their careers. Meg Bulger had 120 in her career at Oakland Catholic.
Bulldogs fan
11:27
morning Mike, 2 questions.  First, Thoughts on playing playoff games at higher seeded home venues? like, dislike, or neutral?
second, I made it down to see canevin on Sunday vs gcc. WOW, calling them really good is an understatement. It seems like 1A is a one horse race. Outside of them union Imani and Leechburg can anyone else push for a spot in the semis? Seems like a large drop-off after those 4.
Mike White
11:29
I like the home games through quarterfinals. Although starting with quarterfinals, basketball playoffs really draw well. Just something WPIAL is trying. They did it in football. We've said all year Canevin is really good. That's why they're No. 1. Imani might be able to give them a little game, but they are head and shoulders above anyone. And yes, Class 1A lacks depth of quality teams.
Ryan
11:29
Mike what do you think about the Kiski area boys basketball team big game tonight at Kiski what hoops game are you covering tonight go Kiski tonight and go highlands against mars
Mike White
11:31
Big win for Kiski last night over Woody High. Logjam in that section after Penn Hills and Gateway. I'll still take Penn Hills tonight.
Scotties4life
11:31
class 1a top 5 playoff seeds
Mike White
11:33
Bishop Canevin, Imani Christian, Union. After that, put 4-5 in hat and pick. I still think Rochester might be sleeper.
GGGroupie
11:33
Blackhawk girls.  The real deal as in good enough to win states or just WPIAL good?
Mike White
11:34
Honestly, I have not seen Blackhawk girls. Favorite to win WPIAL. I don't know much about what's around the rest of the state in that class. But it would seem they have chance to go far.
Fan Man
11:36
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if OLSH gets the the Sweet 16 of the PIAA Playoffs they will have enough success points to move up to 3A next year.  Sadly, this will negate the great competitive balance in 3A over the past 2 years.....I guess 2A would get more wide open though.
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