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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.11.25
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Mike White
11:01
Sun is shining, weather warming up and surely the chat will heat up today with this Uniontown-Meadville game/fight and the decision from PIAA. Not to mention it is the second round of state playoffs - and spring sports are starting. So let's get started.
4A Hoops Guy
11:02
Look, there is plenty of blame to go around for the Meadville/Uniontown incident.  Shouldn't some of that burden go onto District 10 who were the ones in charge of managing the event.  Making it that easy for fans to interact with each other is a recipe for disaster.  Perhaps game management/security should have set up some kind of barrier to separate fans.  It's a shame that we have to treat grown adults like children, but that is what society is currently.
Mike White
11:07
C'mon. First off the game was at Meadville and not a neutral site. But how do you know how much security was there? You don't know. And how is security supposed to know that a fan from one team is going to simply walk up into Meadville section and start throwing haymakers. It's a high school gym. There are no "barriers." What do you want them to do, build a wall a day or two before the game? People acted like idiots and were out of control. Players then got out of control. And they have to deal with the consequences.
4A Hoops Guy
11:08
Any guess at what gender/classification from the WPIAL will be the first to be completely eliminated?  It looks like 1A girls is on its last leg as only Aquinas Academy remains.
Mike White
11:08
Yes, Class 1A girls is down to 1 team.
Mr. Pleasant
11:08
Anyone from the PG going up to Bucknell to cover the PIAA Swim Championships.  Lily King from Mt. Pleasant could be the next Olympian from Western PA
Mike White
11:08
Yes, we will have a story each day. Lily King is indeed something else. We had a bigger story on her early in swimming season.
Mr Ed
11:09
Meant to ask this a couple weeks ago; when #15 seed Penn Trafford beat #2 seed Baldwin, got me thinking, can you recall a #16 seed ever beating a #1 seed in WPIAL playoffs? Or even just more general, what do you recollect as biggest upset in the playoffs over the years?
Mike White
11:11
Yes, West Allegheny was No. 16 seed in 2007 and did more than have one upset. They won WPIAL championship. I still say the biggest upset in my time in playoffs was 1986. Beaver Falls was ranked No. 1 in the state. Had a bunch of size. Traditional power. Entered WPIAL playoffs with 21-1 record. Canevin was 11-12 entering playoffs. Canevin somehow won first-round game, 56-55. Unbelievable to this day.
Fab 5
11:11
How has Brady Mayo not been mentioned more for potential Fab 5 candidate. Averaged 27 points per game, willed a not so great team to the semi finals and has won a state playoff game. Beat a so called fab 5 lock in Courtney Wallace and TNA when they faced off. If it’s purely based on who is the 5 best players, he’s a no doubter.
Mike White
11:13
How do you know Brady Mayo is not being seriously considered for Fab 5? Just because someone on this chat hasn't mentioned it? C'mon. You have no idea who is considered. Don't go by what's on a chat or social media. All I can tell you is that he's being seriously considered.
McKean County Fan
11:13
Hey Mike -- little single-A hoops stuff here. Neighborhood Academy and Elk County Catholic won their first round "games" by 63 points each. They're playing each other in round two. Guessing this game will be more competitive -- sure hope so, since I'm heading down to Tippin Gymnasium tonight. Good doubleheader at Clarion tonight; after the NA-ECC game, Serra takes on D9 champ Otto-Eldred. You have a prediction for these two games? Thanks and keep up the great coverage!
Mike White
11:15
Yes, Elk County Catholic has a good team in many years. Looks like they are good again. But I'll take Neighborhood Academy still. And I'll take Otto-Eldred. Anyone with "Otto" in their name has to be special.
HoopFan1
11:15
Do you think the double forfeit of the Meadville-Uniontown game was the correct decision and why?
Mike White
11:19
I can see some different sides to this sad situation. Bottom line, I don't have any problem with PIAA's rulings. It should be pointed out that it is clear in the PIAA by-laws and constitution that their executive director and staff controls all "inter-district" games. Thus, they make rulings. And the PIAA constitution has by-laws that address unsportsmanlike behavior and conduct. Those by-laws give them authority to suspend a team or players. They also can make rulings on unruly spectators. True, the adults started this. Shame on them. But unfortunately, players from both sides then participated. (I'll say more on next chat entry).
11:23
There were players fighting and most players left the bench, for whatever reason. Leaving the bench is automatic disqualification and also for the next game. I can tell you that Uniontown probably would not have had any players for next game. Officials filed reports to PIAA and so did schools. From a source, I can tell you that I don't know if Meadville would've had enough players eligible to start the next game. You need five to start. Again, yes idiot adults started the whole thing, but then a number of players participated. And sometimes, like it or not, you have to face the consequences. Aliquippa had to play with only five players in a game this season because all of their others were suspended a game for leaving the bench area in an altercation with Imani Christian when fans came onto the court.
11:27
And while the Uniontown-Meadville situation was horrible, it certainly isn't the first time that there was a fight in a playoff game and fans spilled onto the court. This might have been the worst ever, but these things have happened before. Heck, I still remember a gigantic state playoff game in 1975 between Fifth Avenue and Valley (Sam Clancy vs. B.B. Flenory), there was a fight. Some fans came onto the court. I went back and looked up the stories on that game. Order was restored after seven minutes and the game concluded. There have been other incidents over the years but I never remember a state playoff game being stopped. However, I don't blame the officials for stopping the game. You can't blame officials for not trying to break up fights in stands and then players get involved. The officials may have thought that neither team would have enough players to continue because they either left the bench area or were fighting. Fan behavior is horrible and has been for number of years.
11:29
PA announcers can read sportsmanship message before games. Game officials can give captains a sportsmanship message before games. That stuff just doesn't matter sometimes becasue ------ idiots will be idiots.
Ballin
11:29
Mike, I am sure you will get crushed with these questions; but what did you think of the ruling on the Uniontown-Meadville game? I am unsure on how I feel about that. On one hand, it was completely out of control and embarrassing for the PIAA, but for kids careers to end that way also doesn't sit right. Your opinion is always one I value!
Mike White
11:30
Read above posts.
Wips
11:30
Over the past few years l, how have football, basketball, baseball and softball stacked up against the quality of teams 10 years ago? 20 years ago?
Mike White
11:31
If you're talking about just the past 10-20 years, I don't think there is much difference at all with quality of teams. Now if you want compare it to teams from way back, say 50-60 years, there is no comparison, at least in basketball. And number of top football players who are major-college recruits has gone way down.
5A Hoops Guy
11:32
Agree with 4A. In addition, We need to start holding schools, security, and inconsistent officiating accountable.  HS Hoops is like AAU now.  Every game is a wonder to how it will be officiated only causing parents to go crazy.  No excuse for  parents still.  But... we need to pay officials way more and reward the good HS officials.  We have the money.
Mike White
11:35
So you want to blame the officials and some calls for people in the stands getting into a brawl. Have you watched film? Fans fighting and there is a lady holding a toddler girl (maybe 2 or so) and the fight almost goes into the lady and the little girl. They could've been seriously hurt. And you want to blame officials calls for that? Go back to bed, man. And you talk about rewarding the good officials? Well, Hoops Guy, did you know that the ones who are considered the best officials get playoff games and championships. So the so-called "good officials" are rewarded. Every game there are people from one side or the other who think officials were bad.
city guy
11:36
mike - honest question - why does this Allderdice guard get mentioned here every week? is his family lobbying you for some awards? I dont get it
Mike White
11:36
Can we go a week without a Trey Schachter question? I don't get it. Their season is over.
Manny Folzer
11:36
Any scouting report on Governor Mifflin ? Asking for a friend.
Mike White
11:37
Their school is a "Governor's" mansion. ..... Woooooo hooooo. I'll be here all week. Tip your waitresses. Try the veal.
Mr. Pleasant
11:37
Is Brady Mayo's dad on this chat every week?  It seems there is always someone hyping Beaver basketball and Mayo's contributions.  Kid is a good player and works hard but really don't think he is Fab 5 worthy.  Again, my opinion means nothing, and I know PG won't bend to parents!  Appreciate what you do!
Mike White
11:38
I have no idea of the identity of people who ask questions. Brady Mayo is very good and is being considered for Fab 5.
Wpial Fan
11:38
I hadn't seen this neighborhood team all year and I went to the Pete. wow. very impressed. whose their coach? never really hear much about him? has anyone taken a team to win a championship so quickly? weren't they playing in the tiny parochial league a couple years ago?
Mike White
11:39
Jordan Marks is the coach. It's their fifth year in the WPIAL.
Mr Ed
11:39
That’s real good DH at North Allegheny tonight. Should be great atmosphere. Sharon- Belle Vernon matchup; how good is Sharon and who do you like in this one?
Mike White
11:41
Sharon obviously is pretty good. They beat Avonworth Friday. Sharon is 16-8. It's hard to say about many teams in state playoffs. I have not seen Sharon. I have not seen film of them. So what do I know? You can just go by scores and opponents. Judging from that, I'd say Sharon and Belle Vernon will probably be close. I think I'll take Belle Vernon.
Hoops guy
11:41
Morning Mike, do you like the model of East vs West in the state brackets? Would you ever be open to a bracket that has East and West Teams facing off more often in early rounds? I know that creates a lot more travel , but often it seems like there is frequent rematches and sometimes creates a state championship where the two best teams may not be play.
Mike White
11:44
Well, there are no more true "east" and "west" brackets. Really, District 3 is an eastern district. That's Harrisburg area all the way to Lancaster area. I'd say that's pretty eastern. But District 3 plays through the west in brackets. PIAA got rid of true East and West brackets a while ago. But no, I don't think teams from Philly should be playing WPIAL teams in the opening rounds. Why? The number of teams from a district in playoffs is determined by PIAA based on number of teams in that district's classification.
Part 4
11:44
That CV-Montour Part 4 game might be an epic.
Mike White
11:44
Should be a good one.
Wips
11:45
What is the best high school gym to catch a game?
Mike White
11:46
Depends on what you consider "best." There are newer gyms that are really nice and good-sized. Peters Township's new gym is terrific. Other good ones in area also. But I like some "old-school" gyms, too. Washington is tremendous. Horseshoe seating and get this: individual seats. Old theater-style seats. I love it.
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