You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.15.22
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Mike White
10:54
Well, the NCAA tournament is in Pittsburgh this weekend - but the "Elite Eights" are here for high school basketball in the state playoffs. Great time if you love basketball, right? Too bad all of our local D-1 colleges are all down. Would add some more excitement. Oh well, let's get chat going. Now open for questions.
Let's Go!
10:54
Who determines what districts get to ref these big state playoff games.  It seems like interpretation of the block/charge call varies greatly around the state and that could really swing some games.
Mike White
10:55
Honestly I'm not sure how it's done. Obviously, it two teams from same district, then officials will come from that district. Two different districts? Not sure how officials are picked.
Bob
10:55
Why is hockey not a WPIAL sport?
Mike White
10:56
Because the WPIAL and PIAA have not wanted to sponsor it and there is no push from the schools to have WPIAL and PIAA sponsor it. Why? One is money. Hockey is dang expensive, with ice time, equipment, etc. Some school athletic budgets have been cut. Adding another sport with high cost would not be good. Also, hockey would have to follow PIAA rules in terms of classifying teams, etc. Not sure if hockey wants to do that.
Bill
10:56
Who do you see winning and what are the keys to the Canevin Imani game tonight?
Mike White
10:57
Imani has all that size, but will that matter? I think Imani gives them a game, but Canevin wins.
Fairview Forever
10:57
Read some of your stuff about Quaker Valley.  How do you stop them (asking for a friend)?
Mike White
10:58
Hope Adou Thiero and Markus Frank have off nights. One of best one-two scoring punches in high school WPIAL history. But they have faced triangle and twos and they still score. And if you let other guys open, look what can happen: Jack Gardinier goes nuts last week and scores 36 vs. Belle Vernon.
Andy
10:58
How do you see the Penn Hills New Castle game going? Personally I think New Castle the favorite but you definitely can’t count out Chris Giles team and I think Penn Hills has something to prove after their QuarterFinal loss.
Mike White
11:00
Penn Hills has gotten hot in WPIAL playoffs. Penn Hills has height advantage. They have to hope to win rebounding battle. Penn Hills defense against the 3 and New Castle's offensive sets also are key. And New Castle will defend you. Plus, New Castle's 3-point shooting is also key. If Wells and Boice are making 3's, Penn Hills has problems.
Randy
11:00
Who do you see going to Hershey in 3a from the west side of the bracket?
Mike White
11:01
Well, we are guaranteed a 5A team. Four quarterfinalists in boys are all from WPIAL - New Castle, Gateway, Penn Hills, Laurel Highlands. I think OLSH makes it and Canevin has a good chance.
WPIAL Basketball Fan
11:01
Do you think Laurel Highlands will go all the way and win the state championship. I personally think they can but they gotta clean it up a bit, in the WPIAL Championship game 4th Quarter tie game 27 seconds left and 4 timeouts, instead of using their timeouts they force a stupid shot with Rodney and set New Castle for the win. Than with about 8 seconds left in the 1st overtime LH is up 3 and they let New Castle shoot the game tying 3 instead of fouling and putting New Castle on the line. Plus LH also had a scare from Highlands last round. I get their undefeated and I want them to go all the way, Rodney is a great kid and Laurel Highlands is a great area with great fans and they deserve a state championship but I don’t see them winning it. Unfortunately I think the mistakes will catch up with them.
Mike White
11:02
Hey, let's remember Laurel Highlands wasn't exactly playing Cupcake High. You're talking about games with New Castle and Highlands. Those two teams are very good. No shame having close games with them. Yes, things could've been better down stretch, but ... they still won.
Dunks
11:03
Do you see Quaker Valley winning a boy hoops state championship? Why or Why not?
Mike White
11:05
It wouldn't surprise me if they won it. It wouldn't surprise me if they lost in final or maybe not even get there. Hey, there are really good teams left. I'm telling you Fairview is good. Then there is winner of Montour and Archbishop Carroll. Carroll is good. Always tough Neumann-Goretti is on other side. The road is filled with top teams.
WPIAL Fan
11:05
Do you think there should be changes with how high school hockey polices the stands. I mean they let a fight happen at a Shaler game and there’s been instances of student section members cussing out parents, security did not stop these situations. Maybe instead of worrying about throwing people out who tap the glass they should be worried about the fighting that’s going on in the stands.
Mike White
11:06
One of the problems is that since it's not school sponsored, there is no school security personnel there or a principal or AD usually. It's just security from the rink. Not the same. That's part of the problem.
Moon Tigers Fan
11:06
What’s you’re thoughts on who would win a potential state semifinal match in 5a Girls Basketball between Chartiers Valley and Moon?
Mike White
11:06
I'll take Char Valley in a closer one. But they have to both win in quarters.
Spalding
11:06
Mike--it really feels like Butler football proposed a fair agreement to play D10 for two years and then return to the WPIAL, especially considering schedules are finalized. What do you think is the rationale behind the WPIAL's decision?
Mike White
11:09
Well, let's set up the story for those who don't know. Butler left WPIAL in football only because their program is horrible and can't compete. Joined District 10 for football only as associate member. Then suddenly they're eligible for District 10 playoffs and play for a shot at state playoffs. So you tell me if that makes sense? A team can't compete where they belong -- and every other sports team at school plays. So they go play in a district that has only two other 6A teams and they can maybe make state playoffs from there. Do you think that's fair? I don't. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. I don't believe with Butler.
11:10
About earlier thing with Butler. Let's say Pitt basketball says, "We're having trouble competing in ACC. So we are going to leave ACC for hoops only. But let our other teams in ACC. And we are going to play four teams from the NEC where it's much easier. And we win that mini league, we go to the NCAA playoffs." You think that would be fair?
Money
11:10
Who do you see winning state in 6a boys basketball
Mike White
11:10
A team from the east.
Constitution
11:10
Who’s the biggest threat at stopping OLSH?
Mike White
11:11
Portage or Constitution. Constitution played OLSH in final last year.
Todd
11:11
7 out of 8 remaining teams in single a boys are non boundary schools. Seems a little disproportionate.  Congratulations to coach Stanley and the Union Scotties for being public school champions.
Mike White
11:11
What else is new.
LeboKid
11:12
Good morning, Mike. Despite the fact that the WPIAL won 7 AAA titles, and had 34 wrestlers earn top-8 medals, the PIAA has put forth a plan to eliminate one WPIAL qualifier (down to three from four per weight class) for the state tournament. Do you know where this proposal stands, and what recourse does the WPIAL have to ensure that this doesn't go through? It's ridiculous that District 3 (South Central PA) picks up an extra qualifier. Results matter! Thanks, Mike.
Mike White
11:12
Sorry, I not know where this proposal stands. I will have to check with our wrestling writer Ken "Stats" Wunderley - or Bruno Sammartino.
Rodrick
11:13
South Allegheny making it much further in states?
Mike White
11:14
Well they play Bishop Guilfoyle. BG is always pretty good. South Allegheny will have hands full. But could win. Then they play either Aliquippa or Avonworth.
Leader of Pack
11:14
After what transpired in boys 5A this year, is it time for the WPIAL to re-evaluate “follow the leader” as method to send teams to PIAA playoffs? Shouldn’t WPIAL goal be to send the best seven teams to represent District 7 in states? If New Castle had won WPIAL final, state quarter finalist Penn Hills would have never gotten its chance.
Mike White
11:15
Yep, I don't like follow the leader system, either. But the WPIAL seems set against having playbacks. They did it a few years ago, but got rid of it. I don't see them coming back.
Coach O
11:15
If I could stick a football note in here; last week you mentioned Belle Vernon’s non conference schedule and it sure is a doozy. On the flip side, could you see them being the new Central Valley in 3A? Looking over the newly reorganized classification, very few strong teams. Quinton Martin could be a runaway train this year.
Mike White
11:16
Despite a tough non-league schedule, Belle Vernon could be really good in 3A. Might be No. 1 team going in, even though they lost a lot.
DanFortsonFan
11:16
Any early predictions on the 6A games this week with North Hills and FC?
Mike White
11:18
Archbishop Wood is really good. They had defending state champ Reading by 25 on Sunday. Point guard going to Drexel. Other good players. Will take a monumental effort from North Hills. Fox Chapel plays those Konkrete Kids from Northampton. Those kids are hard to crack. ..... Wooooo hoooooo. I'll be here all week.
Connecting…