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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.09.21
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Mike White
11:00
Well, it's the final fours of WPIAL basketball. Semifinals run next three nights and championships start Friday. Are you ready? Is you ready? Let's talk.
City Guy
11:00
Allderdice's season was cut short. Administrators have been given a proposal to allow them to still compete next week while the PIAA tournament is going on. Carrick and Brashear can play for the 5A rep tomorrow. Is there any rule saying district tournaments cannot run concurrently with the State tourney?
Mike White
11:02
I'm not totally sure I understand your question. First, yes Allderdice boys were shut down for a week and thus can't compete for City League championship. But a PIAA sub-region game for Allderdice against District 10 was moved to Monday. So they should be able to play in that. City League AD just said they don't know where and when City title game will be played. But it's supposed to be tomorrow. City girls are on hold because of team shutdowns.
Quad North Fan
11:02
Have you seen the incident at halftime of the NA vs. FC basketball game between NA's coach and the courtside police officer? Do you know if NA administration made any comments about it?
Mike White
11:03
I have not seen it and don't know anything about NA administration actions.
Realist
11:03
With basketball reaching it’s nadir, let’s turn to HS Baseball!  These kids (Softball too) lost a full season and no preseason coverage last year in the PP-G.  I am hopeful you have a full preview in the works for this year.  Lots of talent in W.Pa and it would great to have coverage throughout the year!
Mike White
11:05
Basketball reaching its "nadir?" Maybe you should go back and read the "n's" in the dictionary again. "Nadir" is something's lowest point. I hardly think this is basketball's lowest point. As for previews, yes we will have previews of baseball, softball and other sports. As for last year, we did indeed still publish preseason rankings and preseason stories, as if there was a season.
MarsPlanets
11:05
What's your take on the home games in the playoffs?  I think it makes the regular season more important but is a good addition.  Any talk of this continuing into next year?  Should be easy to add the "playback" games for state berths this way too.
Mike White
11:07
It had to be done this year. Minimize the risk of exposure to virus that way. I know it will be talked about by the WPIAL after the season. If it was my choice, I think they should reward higher-seeded teams with home game in the first round. Neutral sites start in quarterfinals. To me, a netural site semifinal or even quarterfinal with a packed house is the best thing in WPIAL sports.
KnochYouOut
11:07
Any word about Payton List from Beaver?  Heard she was injured in their quarterfinal game.  Didn't know if she is playing vs. Knoch tonight.  Would be a big loss to the Bobcats if she can't play.
Mike White
11:08
Guess I should check the injury list for Payton List. ... Seriously, I don't know anything about the injury.
Ron
11:08
Any updates on theiro from qv? Sad he couldn’t play last night they definitely would’ve won or it would’ve came down to the last minute with him in there.
Mike White
11:10
You're talking about Adou Thiero, junior at Quaker Vally who averages 23 a game and didn't play last night against North Catholic. He has an injured knee. Extent of it, they aren't saying. But he was in a brace and had crutches last night. Does not look good. And no way you could say QV "would've definitely won" had he played. C'mon, it's not like North Catholic is a tomato can. NC is pretty good. It would've been closer, though, definitely.
MaskPolice
11:10
Was suprised to see NA get rewarded with being able to host championship games after all of the photos of the crowds there not social distancing the other night.  Guess the WPIAL just is going to ignore that in the hopes of selling more tickets.  I read your article and I get it about the "charade of wearing chinstraps" but it doesn't even look like they are following any policy.
Mike White
11:12
I don't know. It's up to the school to enforce themselves. Many schools enforced the social distancing thing during the season. Some did not. I'm sure the WPIAL will want social distancing for the championships, but who knows if that will happen.
Ron
11:12
what teams would benefit from moving up or down from 4a or just a different 4a section? I feel like there is so many good teams in there that unfortunately suffer from all the talent in it, especially this year with Lp and North Catholic joining in.
Mike White
11:13
Well Ron, I think any team would benefit from moving down in class. And it will probably be a little harder to move up in class, no matter who you are.
Bob
11:13
I love how ellwood city plays and the run they have going on. Does it stop against neshannok or do they keep on going, I say they keep going
Mike White
11:17
Ellwood is a great story. First time in the semis since Dan Aloi met Sean Miller in the 1986 title game at Pitt Field House. And the Roth brothers are one of the best stories of the entire school year in the WPIAL. I mean, can you name WPIAL gold-medalist swimmers who were also top players on a semifinalist basketball team? It's unheard of. To compete in both of those sports is extremely hard. To excel in both is surreal to me. The freshman (Joseph) has been quite the force in both.
JB
11:21
You weren't able pick 3and 4 boys and 1 and 5 girls on podcast for finals make your picks now.
Mike White
11:22
I'll go Lincoln Park, Belle Vernon, South Allegheny, Ellwood City in boys. ... In girls, I'll take Char Valley, Trinity, Rochester and Eden Christian.
Mike White 2
11:22
Will schools have summer and fall leagues for hoops this year? I know most didn’t have one but I feel like now they can figure out a way
Mike White
11:23
Well, I know AAU tournaments are scheduled for this spring. So I would imagine there will be spring, summer and fall leagues for high school teams.
Mikey the Greek
11:23
Who wins USC vs Butler ?
Mike White
11:25
I think it'll be close. I'll take USC. A few keys. Does USC pressure turn over Butler and Carney some? Does USC double Carney? I think Carney needs to have a big game for Butler to win, but another key is Butler's "other" players. They must shoot it well because I think they'll get some looks.
Guest
11:25
You've talked about best player and best scorer but who's the best pure shooter in the WPIAL?
Mike White
11:26
I'll go Devin Carney. But Jake DiMichele is up there and Trinity's Michael Dunn also has to be up among the best. Saw him live for first time Saturday. Very good. Also don't sleep on Butler's Mattix Clement. The kid has about 260 career 3-pointers now.
Blind Mans Bluff
11:26
Over the weekend you saw Jeff Capel talk about biased against Pitt by the officials in the ACC I agree with him on that. Do you think there are some WPIAL coaches that can claim that as well ?
Mike White
11:30
No matter the level, and no matter the sports, there will always be people who claim officials have bias. I'm not one of them. I'm sure all officials might have a coach or two they don't care for. Oh well. But let's not accuse high school officials of having bias. C'mon. For playoffs, WPIAL coaches can request certain officials "not" be on their games. However, I will say over the years I've seen some top WPIAL players who definitely get the benefit of calls.
Paul
11:30
Mike, have you gotten the chance to see small school Bishop Canevin play? I was very surprised. They have some real talent on that team. Play fast tempo & fun to watch. Would be school's first WPIAL championship.
Mike White
11:32
I have not seen them live, but I know they are very good. Yes, it would be their first WPIAL title if they win. I say we start calling Gino Palmosina "Auriemma."
Paul
11:32
Mike, have you had the chance to see Bishop Canevin play? Rematch of last years quarter finals vs. Union. They have some real talent on the Crusaders this year.
Mike White
11:33
Paul, it's the same question, different wording. I just answered it.
VARoyal24
11:33
I was talking with a friend a few days ago about the 2003 Union team that came into the playoffs 12-10 and went on an all time run to state runner up.  That seemed to come out of nowhere and we used to beat up on that team when we were all JVs.  I have a much shorter memory than you, can you think of any other notable low seed WPIAL champs that came out of no where?
Mike White
11:34
West Allegheny 2007. They were essentially No. 16 seed. Had to win a preliminary-round game just to get to round of 16. Beat Char Valley in title game. There have been other teams who lost in WPIAL quarterfinals and made run to state finals.
JZ
11:34
The dribbler took Butler to win it all, not USC.  Are you having an identity crisis Mike?
Mike White
11:35
You ever think maybe I'm not The Dribbler??
Ryan
11:35
Your favorite to win Class A WPIAL championship?
Mike White
11:36
This is really a stretch, but I'm the type who's willing to go out on a limb. I'll take Bishop Canevin.
JB
11:36
You notice how all 1 and 2 seeded teams are left in all classifications.  I guess committee did a pretty good job.
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