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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.10.26
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Mike White
11:01
Well, it's here. The WPIAL basketball playoffs start Friday. It's a most wonderful time of the year. Chat now open.
Canes
11:02
is this year’s Newcastle team the best Newcastle team of all time?
Mike White
11:02
No. But they can create lheir own legacy in the postseason.
Tom
11:02
In Boys 6A, it seems like there's the top 3 (USC, New Castle, and Central Catholic). Who else can make a run and get to the PIAA playoffs or be a Cinderella? Pine Richland took down New Castle and has Spacciapolli who can score. Fox Chapel beat Chartiers Valley earlier in the season, with McGivney putting up 63 in the last 3 section games (including 27 against New Castle). North Hills has Schanbacher and Long, who can both put up a lot of points. Sheely at Mt Lebo can score. Can any of these teams knock off the big 3?
Mike White
11:03
Tom, you touched on pretty much all of them. Don't forget about Seneca. Come on at end of season. All they have to do is beat Hempfield and they are in semis and the state playoffs.
HS hoops fan
11:04
Mike, curious if you saw West Allegheny's X Post.....apparently the girls team has been using a 'practice squad' of boys from their HS to compete against the girls in practice all season. Pretty sure this isn't allowed under PIAA rules and wondering if you think WPIAL/PIAA may investigate and hand down some type of discipline?
Mike White
11:07
I did not see that. But that is an interesting question. I really don't know the answer to that. I know many Division I college women's teams have men's practice teams from the college. I know. May son was on Xavier's women's practice team for two years. He really liked it. I'm not sure about Pennsylvania. I know there is something that if the principal approves something, it can be allowed. But I know you can't bring in someone from other schools. That was the Terrelle Pryor rule. It came about when Jeannette beat Dunmore in 2007 state final. Dunmore brought, I think, a JC QB to practice all week against the defense and to imitate Pryor. PIAA put in rule after that.
Moe
11:07
Brackets are interesting, but not a lot of intrigue till the semifinals. Lets go back to 4 classes and get some competitive games in the playoffs
Mike White
11:08
I disagree. There will be plenty of interesting quarterfinal games. Quarterfinal games are good.
Bill
11:10
Why do the Quips have to play at neutral site (South Fayette) and not get first round home game as #2 seed?
Mike White
11:11
Sorry, but I'm not seeing that. I know the WPIAL said it had some mistakes on sites in original brackets. But Tuesday there is a girl-boy doubleheader at Aliquippa. Quip girls play Beth-Center at 6 and Quip boys play Sto-Rox at 7:30.
State Playoffs
11:13
Hi Mike.  Thanks for everything this season.  In 5a girls are you able to tell me how many teams qualify for the state playoffs?  Is it 8 like last year or has that number changed.  The rationale on the  bracket the WPIAL released is hard to follow.
Mike White
11:17
You are exactly right. WPIAL brackets really hard to follow. Couldn't even see seeds of some teams. For Class 5A girls, I believe it's 8. That's what it says on WPIAL web site and what schools were told. But the bracket says four teams from semis move to consolation bracket. Extremely confusing. It's eight.
Joe Lunardi
11:17
5A is a gauntlet.  Will that be the most difficult championship to win in all the classifications?
Mike White
11:18
Joe Lundardi, Didn't know you were interesting in WPIAL brackets. I'm honored. 5A is tough, so is 4A. And 6A won't be easy, either. At least in boys.
Joe Lunardi
11:18
Every year I look at the seeding predictions from the local papers and online wpial social media outlets and they are always pretty similar with a few minor differences.  I saw your indians got screwed.  How does that happen?  Who did you make angry?  SV should've been 6th and NH 4th.
Mike White
11:19
Obviously, that's a matter of opinion and WPIAL had different opinion than many others. What are you going to do? You play who they give you.
Roberto's Cousin
11:19
Hi Mike! Appreciate all you've done for high school athletics over the years and how you continually have uncovered the best stories. Just curious as to your thoughts on AAU/Club teams that have become more commonplace over the past decade. I go back and forth on their benefits vs. the damage done to high school sports. IMO, many are just money grabs and provide nothing of substance to athletes.
Mike White
11:21
One thing is good about AAU teams. It keeps playing and keeps a ball in their hands. But yes, some of them are bad and yes, some like to make money. The money spent at top level high school AAU teams, between travel, etc., is ridiculous. That's why it will not change. Too much money involved and too many people making good amount  money at high school top levels. Plus, shoe companies control lot of it.
CityGuy2000
11:24
In the Pittsburgh Public School League, you’re starting to see a wild pattern with senior-year transfers. Tavaon Youngblood bounced from Imani Christian to Westinghouse and is now suiting up for Carrick in the middle of the season. Eric James slid into the City League from Kentucky midyear, while Landen Boykin went from Perry to Lincoln Park and then right back to Perry. Keenu Brooks hooped at Seton LaSalle last season and pulled up to Taylor Allderdice for his senior year. Folks keep telling me the City League plays by different rules than the WPIAL and that’s why certain guys stay eligible, but I’m not buying that story. Last year, Allderdice had a senior transfer, Trey Schachter—now a Division I guy—who played in both the City League playoffs and the state playoffs after coming in for his last year, and that just makes you wonder how these rules are really being applied, are they under different rules
Mike White
11:27
I'm not sure about all the players you mentioned. First off, Schachter came to Allderdice before his junior year - not senior. He came from Lincoln Park. Eric James did indeed come to Obama in mid season from Kentucky. Under PIAA rules, a midseason transfer has to sit 21 days and I think he did, although his dad filed a suit in court to get a preliminary injunction that would allow him to play without sitting 21 days. He lost the suit. Judge ruled against it. I have the case right in front of me, so he did sit. I don't know if James is eligible for the playoffs. Coach said when he transferred that he wasn't sure. We'll see.
Mr Ed
11:27
Mohawk section not strong but their non conference wins against Penn Hills, Hopewell, Seneca Valley  and close loss to Central catches my eye. I don’t know much about competition outside WPIAL but do they have decent shot to make pretty deep state playoff run, say semis maybe?
Mike White
11:28
Mohawk is for real. They are good. I've had them No. 1 since start of season. Bobby Fadden and team are great story. Last WPIAL title was 1970.
Brackets
11:28
I know there has been a lot of turnover in the WPIAL exec office lately, but the lack of detail or care put into the brackets released is a bit concerning.
Mike White
11:29
They're still learning. We'll give them a break. But I will admit the brackets were a little tough to make out. Give them a chance to get better.
SOUTH PARK FAN
11:29
I'M EXCITED FOR THE BOYS! SOLID DRAW! SHOULD MAKE A RUN! WE NEED OUTSIDE SHOOTING THOUGH!
Mike White
11:29
South Park has a chance.
City League
11:29
Do you think the City League will ever fully be integrated into the WPIAL? Is there any benefit for them to continue to hold onto a league with 5 teams or less?
Mike White
11:30
Doesn't seem like that will ever happen in all sports. Seems like City administration isn't pushing for it, either. I think it would be good, but City schools would have to make a lot of changes. Allderdice and Obama could compete in basketball, though, for sure.
HooperMan
11:30
Mike, I know QV  had a great year, but I disagree with putting them number 1 over North Catholic or Knoch. I think those two teams have separated themselves from the field and one of them should have been number 1. Thoughts?
Mike White
11:32
I don't have a big problem with Quaker Valley being No. 1, although it's not who I would've put there. I would've put North Catholic. Some reasoning was that Quaker Valley was undefeated in section. Well, they didn't have another team like North Catholic or Knoch. Quaker is good, though.
CityGuy2000
11:32
Are these guys going to eligible for the playoffs
Mike White
11:34
You talking about the City League? I'm not sure of the postseason status of transfers. All I know is Allderdice and Obama are way ahead of everyone else in the City.
11:40
Here was a head scratcher in Class 1A boys? Nazareth Prep was seeded No. 2 in Class 1A. I know Nazareth Prep won a section. Monessen and Serra didn't win a section (Neighborhood Academy did), but Monessen and Serra both handled Nazareth Prep in non-section games and had better record. Both Monessen and Serra seeded behind Naz Prep and Avella. Avella good record, but didn't win section (finished behind Naz Prep), lost to Naz Prep once, and just lost to 5-14 Beaver County Christian. Please help me understand.
5a
11:40
Thoughts on how they seeded 5a
Mike White
11:40
For boys? I have no problem with top four, three being from one section (Char Valley, Lincoln Park and Moon). That's how I would've done it also.
11:45
Many media people just got email from WPIAL with league saying they will have new brackets out after the first round that will be easier to read. Huh. Must have received other complaints. Good. At least they reacted.
TrojaFan
11:47
Regarding QV, they lost to Shaler.  best win out of section was Seton Lasalle in smaller classification.  while NC beat Gateway and Devon Prep (defending state champ).  and knoch beat woodland hills and south fayette.  based on body of work , QV is a clear #3 with a  much easier schedule , which usually matters. any thoughts on that?
Mike White
11:48
Don't disagree with you at all. North Catholic played a really good out-of-section schedule. Some really good Ohio teams. Knoch played some good teams also. As I said, I wouldn't have made Quaker Valley No. 1. But that's just me. I'm not saying Quaker Valley can't win it, but North Catholic and Knoch body of work, to me, is more impressive.
Bob
11:48
Who u go Jeanette or Sewickley in 2a?
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