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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.16.21
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centralalum5566
11:31
Do you think Langston Moses will impact the cc vikings in the playoffs if he returns??
Mike White
11:32
I don't know his status. But if Moses follows his 10 commandments, he might have an impact. "Thou shalt not enter the lane."
Rah Rah
11:33
Mike who has the best HS fight song that you've heard ?
Mike White
11:35
Hmmmm, Rah Rah. Honestly, I don't know a lot of them. A number of them take them from college songs anyway. But Thomas Jefferson's sticks out in my mind. I like theirs. I think it's original and I seem to hear it a lot every year in championships.
Guest
11:35
Is the junior class much better than the senior class for WPIAL boys? Seems that way from looking at top players and leading scorers.
Mike White
11:35
Are you talking basketball? Depends on what "much better" is. If it's Division I college players, no there aren't a ton of them in junior class, either.
WPIAL Lifer
11:36
With state indoor occupancy limits in mind, do you know which HS gyms in WPIAL have largest capacity? I'm thinking Char-Valley, Cannon-Mac, Ringgold, Penn Hills, Mt. Lebo, North A have all got to be up there.
Mike White
11:36
I think North Allegheny's capacity is around 2,500. I think New Castle also. Lebo isn't as big I don't think. New Peters Township one is supposed to be 2,500.
Proud Big Mac
11:36
I hope Western PA high school hockey questions are allowed...a jam at the top of the AAA standings with Canon Mac, Pine Richland, North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, and Peters Township all within a few points of each other.  Canon Mac and Peters play Thursday at Southpointe.  So who wins AAA this year...if you're following it?
Mike White
11:37
Oh, I love hockey questions. Yes, real logjam in AAA. If North Allegheny can get Khalil Dinkins in hockey uniform and play defense or goalie, my money's on NA.
11:42
But speaking of hockey, shoutout to Thomas Jefferson hockey team and their one and only player Riley Holzer, who might be the only player in local hockey who is the son of a basketball coach. Upper St. Clair coach Danny Holzer is a hockey expert and is one of the best figure skaters you'll ever see that didn't make the Olympics.
D9Dave
11:43
Your thoughts on football season extending into December?  I like the way it worked this season with the PIAA finals being Thanksgiving weekend.  Why not start earlier and end sooner?  Would reduce the overlap between fall and winter sports too.
Mike White
11:45
It's not quite that easy. I agree it would be great to have football over by Thanksgiving. But there are some issues. It might mean having to cut back regular season a week. Teams don't want that. There are 12 districts around the state and vast majority of them let it be known they don't like the idea of earlier start and early finish. But I think you could follow Ohio's schedule maybe. There will be more discussion on this in future with PIAA, but it's dead for 2021.
D9Dave
11:45
Do you think the WPIAL will consider having an open tournament in future seasons or will they go back to the old playoff system before Covid?
Mike White
11:47
I hope they do. I asked Amy Scheuneman that yesterday and she said the league will wait to see what feedback is after this year's tournament. I like it. Here's a thing that not many people think about. It would help some coaches. Some people go after a coach because he doesn't make playoffs for maybe 3 years. Coach might still be doing a good job, but just doesn't have talent. Would alleviate some pressure on coaches.
Proud Big Mac
11:47
That's funny.  Canon Mac's goalie is a football player as well and a pretty good one.  Khalil would probably make a good goalie.  But of course down here, our money's on the Big Macs.  We'll play the PIHL finals in Cranberry at the Lemieux arena.  See you there!!
Mike White
11:47
Oh I definitely won't miss it.
PGH Coach
11:47
I like Duquesne getting some of the best WPIAL girls players.  Hope they can show the truw girls talent in this area.  Is it me or is Pitt not looking at our local talent or do you think local girls aren't ACC material?
Mike White
11:50
It's a fine line PGH coach. We do produce a lot of Division I girls. Many, many more than boys. But not a lot of those girls to Power 5 schools. Very few. Honestly, I don't think there are a ton of girls who are Power 5 material. Or at least would make a difference at Power 5. Dan Burt has a lot of young WPIAL players. Not a great season for Dukes so far. Hopefully, those players help them get better in future. Megan McConnell has been a big surprise. She went there with idea of being redshirted. Now she's starting point guard and playing ton of minutes.
D9Dave
11:50
Has the WPIAL announced what their attendance policy will be for the basketball playoffs and if so what is it?
Mike White
11:51
Whatever it is at the respective gyms. I think it's like 10-20 percent of capacity. It will be the same for playoffs.
Mel
11:51
Thoughts on Brayden Reynolds as a D1 prospect?  Dropping 42 at New Castle is no small feat?
Mike White
11:53
Brayden has really proven himself this year. I think he's a little underrated. I know Army wants him bad. Drexel and UMASS Lowell just started showing interest. I think he can definitely play at those levels. He now scores at all three levels and is much more athletic than people think. I think he is a definite D-1 player. Not major D-1, but definitely D-1. He has a lot of things going for him. Have to remember that recruiting also is curtailed at a lot of players by COVID-19 and the rule of giving kids extra year eligibility.
Questions ?
11:54
Mike in all your years of covering HS sports who was the most difficult or irascible coach you ever dealt with ? Have they mellowed over the years or are they still cranky ?
Mike White
11:56
I'd have to say I've had very few issues with that. I remember the first game I covered on deadline on a Friday night in football was 1981. Avonworth at Cornell. Avonworth lost and coach was Tim O'Malley. I remember thinking this coach is "salty." Ha ha. He would later go on to be head of WPIAL. We still laugh about that. Jim Render was the worst loser I ever dealt with. But then you got to know him and his quirks and learned to laugh and appreciate him. Gotta love, Jim.
11:57
Well that's it for now. It's now lunch, 9th grade hoops game and then off to Aliquippa and Avonworth for tonight. Next Tuesday at 11 again. Everyone, be good.
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