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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.24.26
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Mike White
10:56
Well, two-thirds of the WPIAL basketball championships are set. The rest of the semifinals are tonight. To me, this is the best week of the high school sports year. It's electric in some of these gyms for the semifinals. So let's talk. Chat now open.
11:00
I want to say this up front. The crowd for the four games Friday at the Petersen Center might be big. Crowds in recent years at The Pete have been really good. In 2022, the four Friday games drew a total of 10,170. Could Friday be close to that? Yes. Because you know New Castle will have a big following, and Upper St. Clair probably will also. Thomas Jefferson is in the girls 5A final. They will probably bring a lot. South Fayette is TJ's opponent. They have a good following. It will be nice to see the crowds.
QuipNation
11:00
Aliquippa's football and basketball programs have won a combined 46 WPIAL and State championships. Does any other WPIAL school come close to that number?
Mike White
11:00
Not for football and basketball.
HSfan
11:01
NC/CC was everything you could want from a semi final game. Great crowd, close throughout, both teams made big plays. I thought the difference NC being able to beat CC off the dribble enough to make plays. Don’t think many teams were able to do that to CC. I wouldn’t be surprised if these two see each other again.
Mike White
11:02
Central was giving up only about 36 points a game. New Castle had 34 at halftime. Yes, New Castle made plays off the dribble. The game slowed in the second half because New Castle started slowing things down with Graham and Cox controlling the ball. Look at that game, there wasn't much difference between the two. Two evenly matched teams. Really if you had to say the difference in the game was that New Castle just made one more play than Central.
Ted C
11:02
Geibel vs Serra round 3 for WPIAL championship. Is it true that the big for Geibel broke her arm after the game last night in the celebration?
Mike White
11:03
I have no idea about that.
Sam
11:03
Hey Mike! I’m not sure if this is common or not but it seems like on the boys side 6A, 2A, 1A and potentially 3A all may have a rematch of last years championship. Does it happen often you get that many rematches?
Mike White
11:06
Rematches do happen, of course. I don't know the exact numbers, but at least three is a lot. With the possibility still of South Allegheny and Aliquippa. Here's a little factoid. Upper St. Clair and New Castle meet in the 6A final. A rematch. This is only the sixth time more than 100 years of WPIAL basketball that two teams meet in back-to-back years in largest classification championship. First two were more than 100 years ago. .... And no, I did not cover those (ha ha).
1A Hoop Fan
11:06
Well, Mike, it seems you were right about 1A. Neighborhood blew monessen out and Serra Catholic handled Naz with relative ease. I guess it doesn’t matter at this point but still mind blowing they looked at Serra and said they are a 6 seed. Either way I think the championship should be a good one. First game was a 3 point win for TNA and second was 10 for TNA
Mike White
11:09
Hey 1A Hoop Fan. As I said, WPIAL basketball committee made no sense putting Naz Prep No. 2 seed and Avella No. 3. At least not to me. Serra and Monessen tied for second in section behind Neighborhood Academy. Naz Prep won section, but so what? Serra and Monessen both had much better overall records, and both beat Naz Prep easily. As I said, the committee looked at non-section games sometimes, but not others. No consistency. I wondered if they realized that both Monessen and Serra beat Naz Prep. Oh well. It all came out in the end. Still doesn't make what it right what committee did.
X
11:09
How does the Wpial decide what classes play on what days for championships? Seen there’s a chance a few schools could have both boys and girls in championship. Would be cool to see a double header with them but I guess it may not be possible?
Mike White
11:11
They decide it well ahead of time. The final two games of the day are girls and boys in the three bigger classes. Yes, it would be nice if teams from the same school played doubleheader. But I don't blame the WPIAL for scheduling ahead of time. Think about it. There might be games on Tuesday night that would affect scheduling. That means some teams might not know what day they are playing until Wednesday. I don't think that would be right. I don't have a problem with setting matchups ahead of time.
Ryan
11:11
Who wins Thursdays game Knoch Or Quaker valley go Knoch
Mike White
11:12
Could be a good one. I'll go with Knoch. Many people talk about Knoch's size as being a factor - and it is. But Knoch's guards are good, too. Don't overlook them, especially Finucan.
CVcolts45
11:12
Mike, any idea when the football conferences will be released?
Mike White
11:12
I think WPIAL said maybe this week or next.
WPIAL Fan
11:13
Who was the last football-first true big man that was as dominant as Ryan Robbins has been this year?
Mike White
11:17
Well, Mars' Michael Carmody comes to mind from a few years ago. He had football scholarship to Notre Dame as an offensive lineman and was rather imposing in basketball. But you're right. Not many "true" centers who are highly recruited in football and have such a big impact in basketball as Robbins. I will throw a name at you from way back. Big John Naponick of Norwin in 1960s. He was 6-9. Wore size 18 shoe. Was like a folk hero at Norwin. Won WPIAL title in 1963. Sold out Civic Arena in first high school game there - Norwin beat Aliquippa. Big John went on to play basketball --- AND FOOTBALL -- at the University of Virginia.
Canes
11:17
Marino best freshman  in wpial in how long???
Mike White
11:19
We've had some pretty darn good freshmen even in recent years. Remember how good Rodney Gallagher was as a freshman? That was only 2020 and Gallagher had this calmness, yet intensity, that Graham also has. Gallagher made two free throws to win the 5A title against Mars. Then made two more to beat New Castle in double OT two years later.
11:20
One of the things about Marino Graham that not many people know is it was questionable if he would play last night. Suffered groin injury in Thursday's semifinal. Did not practice Friday or Saturday. Could barely walk Friday. Practiced only a little Sunday. Graham has "it." I can't define what "it" is, but he has "it."
Norm
11:20
I think 5A will have the best championship game. Assuming it’s TJ playing either moon/char valley. Those 3 teams are really good and have size. Do you think any of them would be able to win 6A if they were in it? I still lean NC and USC beating them and probably CC too but fun to think about
Mike White
11:22
Oh, I don't know about that. The USC vs. New Castle shapes up as a really good one. Lot of really good storylines in that one. Yes, 5A could be good, but that 6A game is really interesting. If Aliquippa and South Allegheny make it to 3A final, that's a rematch of last year.
Anonymous
11:22
Who’s your pick for C.V.: Moon and TJ/Hampton tonite
Mike White
11:23
I'll go CV and TJ. I say TJ gets to final for first time since 1988, when Tom "The Shark" Sharkey was the coach and - get this - Danny Holzer was a 22-year-old Thomas Jefferson assistant.
N
11:23
What are some of the biggest upsets you can remember in Wpial playoffs or championship games? Have seen some 15 seeds winning in 5A recently but I’m sure you know of more
Mike White
11:27
Well one that comes to mind right away was West Allegheny winning the 3A championship in 2007. West Allegheny had to win a play-in game just to get the No. 16 seed. Then they win the title under coach Josh Bears. In the championship, beat Chartiers Valley in double OT at Palumbo. T.J. McConnell was a freshman on that CV team. I still say biggest upset in WPIAL playoff history, though, was Canevin beating Beaver Falls in 1986 first round. At Post-Gazette, we thought it was a joke when called in.  Beaver Falls was 21-1. Two-time defending WPIAL champ. No. 1-ranked in the state. Had front line of 6-6, 6-7 and 6-10. Canevin was 11-13 and no starter taller than 6-2. Unreal. Canevin won 56-55. 
Mr Ed
11:27
Bobby Fadden would be on my list of finalists for PG athlete of the year. Do you know what sport he will play in college or if he has selected a college yet?
Mike White
11:28
I agree. He will definitely be considered. Bobby has said he will most likely play basketball in college, most likely at D-III school.
Old Skool
11:28
Surprised NC/CC was on tv last night.  Do you know any games on tonight?  Championships only on NFHS?
Mike White
11:31
Was nice to see the game on 22 The Point. Had to get some ratings. Was also nice to see former Duquesne coach Ron Everhart doing color commentary. He did it all year. Championship games will all be on NFHS Network. It takes a subscription. But you can buy just one month subscription for, like, 13 dollars and cancel it after a month. But KDKA will be doing all the games on radio also.
Height
11:32
What is the size comparison between USC and NC ? Does USC have an advantage ?
Mike White
11:34
Well if you haven't heard there is one big guy for USC. And he's rather imposing. 6-7, 275-pound Ryan Robbins, major-college football offensive lineman, barrel-chested. New Castle doesn't have anyone like him. New Castle has 6-3 Damian Harrison. Guards are similar in size.
SOUTH PARK FAN
11:34
WE'VE NEVER BEAT ALIQUIPPA IN ANYTHING! SO, WE'RE DUE RIGHT?
Mike White
11:34
It wouldn't be a shock, but hard to get against Quips in semifinal games.
TV
11:34
Will any of the title games be on TV ? This pay per view stuff is garbage
Mike White
11:36
Not on broadcast TV. On NFHS Network.  As I said above, you can get a one month subscription for, like, 13 dollars. C'mon, man. That's not bad. Think of it, 13 dollars and you can watch all of WPIAL championships. And then some state games also. And cancel after a month. That's not too shabby. Hey, I bought one for a month.
Kash Patel
11:37
If USC win on Friday do you think they'd let someone not with the program visit the locker room ? Asking for a friend
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