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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.18.25
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Mike White
10:57
March Madness starts with the NCAA tonight, but we're in the thick of March Madness in basketball. State semifinals are this weekend. And in case you didn't notice, spring sports have started. So, lots to chat about. Here we go.
TM
10:57
Why the week off between PIAA hoops quarterfinal and semi-final games?
Mike White
11:01
I'm explaining this in my weekly Prep Talk column. But I'll also explain here. Blame that dang Cirque du Soleil. PIAA had scheduled the championships for this weekend at Giant Center in Hershey. But whoever was involved in the scheduling didn't realize Giant Center arleady booked that Cirque du Soleil show Thursday through Sunday of this week. So the PIAA re-did its schedule and had to move finals back a week. The semifinals would've been last night and tonight and the finals Thursday through Saturday. (continued on next post).
11:02
But the PIAA didn't want teams sitting 10 or 12 days from semifinals to finals under new schedule. So they moved semifinals back to this weekend. Now teams sit a week from quarterfinals to semifinals, and another week from semis to championships. Got it?
Josh
11:02
Based on your videos you seemed to have a good look Saturday when the Mcdowell coach caught that pass out of bounds in the opening minutes against USC. What did you think of that? It was a weird start to what turned out to be a great game.
Mike White
11:05
That was a most memorable finish. To get a block, and a dunk within 8 seconds and win that way was unforgettable for Upper St. Clair. Anyway, that pass that the McDowell coach caught early in the game was not far from me (I was sitting at press table). But I was kind of blocked by an official right in front of me and a player. So I didn't really have a view of where the coach was when he caught it. It seemed like he was close to being on court, if only slightly. But honestly, I can't say because I didn't really have a view.
TW
11:05
Great PIHL game last night between S. Fayette and Seneca Valley….THREE OVERTIMES….won by SV 3-2.  Goalie for SF, Ankrum, with 63 saves!
Mike White
11:05
Unbelievable. Guess he stood on his head.
Matt
11:05
How does the PIAA not figure out how to schedule State finals when Hershey arena is available?
Mike White
11:06
Great question. Someone screwed up. Not sure which side.
Port
11:06
Mckeesport fired Coach Blackwell???
Mike White
11:07
Yep, they opened his postion (basketball coach). McKeesport hired Dan DeRose last Thursday. Has been coach at South Park, Penn Hills, North Allegheny, Carlynton. Won WPIAL title at Penn Hills.
Tony
11:08
First wanted to thank you for all the years of coverage. Clearly with your success developing the White Lotus this is a labor of love and we appreciate it! Finally got a chance to see neighborhood team up in clarion. Lots of talk about the Wallace kid with good reason but they have other players too. really shared the ball and played great defense putting a good elk county team to bed. do you like their chances this week and beyond?
Mike White
11:13
OK I'll be honest. As the creator and director of White Lotus, if I don't win another Emmy this year, I'm quitting the TV/movie business and becoming a sports writer. Thank you for noticing my White Lotus work. As for Neighborhood Academy, yes they have other good players besides Wallace. Simpson is one. They have won every postseason game by at least 19 points. I think they beat Otto-Eldred. By the way, where does "Eldred" come from? Is that from Batman's butler? Anyway, I don't know a lot about 1A teams from East. But I think NA definite favorite.
6A
11:13
The team left in Boys 6a from Philly look pretty tough but I was sure McDowell was gonna win on Saturday. Do you think USC can actually pull this off ?
Mike White
11:16
It would be big upset if USC beat Roman Catholic in semis. Roman has three starters between 6-4 and 6-7. Shareef Jackson, 6-7 senior, going to Lafayette. His brother, 6-6 junior Sammy, has offers from Auburn, Vandy and more. Sebastian Edwards is 6-4 and starts. Then there's sophomore guard Tyler Sutton (6-2), who is ranked No. 25 sophomore in the country and has offers from St. John's, Mississippi State and more. And if USC would by chance beat Roman, Imhotep and Father Judge are in other semi. Yikes. Imhotep has won 35 PIAA games in a row.
Champs
11:16
Which team do you think, boys and girls, has the best shot to win in all from the WPIAL ?
Mike White
11:16
Neighborhood Academy in Class 1A boys.
PIAAMan
11:16
Former coach here; these breaks between games this time of year is a nightmare. Practicing this time of year is mundane, and repetitive, plus this season is so long as it is. I would imagine most coaches are pulling their hair out at this point. This was a massive screw up by someone, and its just way way way too long.
Mike White
11:17
Check out above post. I explained what happened. Yes, someone screwed up. Considering what the PIAA had to deal with, I have no problem with how they adjusted the schedule.
1A Hoops Guy
11:20
Any info on Otto-Eldred? Even in the age of the internet, hard to find anything about the team TNA is facing.
Mike White
11:23
I know Otto-Eldred can score. Average close to 70 and they have three 1,000-point scorers. They play in District 9. Let's just say District 9 isn't exactly the home of powerhouses. But Otto-Eldred has been pretty decent for a few years. They were in Class 2A. Made it to 2A semifinals two years ago where they lost to Aliquippa by 56-28.
Beaver County Fan
11:23
After the controversial call at the end of the Blackhawk-Oakland Catholic game, I saw a comment in the chat on the Tuesday after that read (paraphrasing) that the official must be kicking himself once he saw the replay. Based on your years of coverage, do you think officials get guilty consciences after seeing an errant call they have made? I know there is nothing they can do about it after the fact, but I'm sure some of them think "Oh man, I blew that call" and have some semblance of guilt.
Mike White
11:24
I don't know if you would call it guilt. But officials are humans, remember? They can make mistakes just like coaches and players. So if they make a late call and maybe see film later or realize it wasn't the right call, surely they might feel bad.
Austin Butler
11:24
Any word on the Hempfield coaching position?
Mike White
11:24
No idea.
On TV
11:25
Are any of these semi final games gonna be on TV anywhere to your knowledge ?
Mike White
11:25
A number of them should be on NFHS Network. Where you have to buy a subscription to watch. State finals will be on PCN.
Mr Ed
11:25
I caught some of Colorado State conference championship game and Ethan Morton got some decent minutes and played well. Glad to see he gets one more NCAA tournament appearance. He strikes me as great coaching material down the road?
Mike White
11:28
Ethan is one of the best people I have covered in all the years I've done this. I think so highly of that kid - and so do many other people. It's a head scratcher what happened to him at Purdue. But it was great to see him after Colorado State won the Mountain West tournament hugging his dad. The kid has been through some tough times in college. Happy for him. I actually texted him after the game and he said there were a lot of emotions after the game. And he scored 11 points in that game. That might have been his season high, not sure.
TM
11:28
2019 Peters Twp girls vs this seasons Peters Twp girls...who you taking? 2019 had Marissa, who I think was better high school player than Wetzel. But this years team has better supporting cast.
Mike White
11:29
I don't kow. That 2019 team had some decent "others" also. But that team won a state title. In my opinion, can't compare them unless they win a state title this year.
goirishlee
11:29
Can we please stop blaming the refs for losing?  A foul in the first minute is a foul in the last second.  How about hit your free throws and shoot better.  Thanks for letting me rant.
Mike White
11:32
I agree -- somewhat. A lot of good officials out there. Block/charge call has to be the toughest in the end of the game situation. I've seen it decide other WPIAL title games or semifinals. But don't you think officials might call something differently in the final few seconds than they would earlier in the game? Like, a ticky-tack foul call you're not going to get on the last play of the game that you might earlier? Correct?
11:36
And while on the subject of officials and fan behavior, the poor behavior from fans isn't stopping. I have said fans behavior has been bad for ages. But it does seem to be getting worse. People just don't care, no matter what sportsmanship messages are read on the PA system. (to be continued).
11:41
Idiots are idiots. That personality is enduring. I was at the media table courtside for last Friday's North Catholic-Cathedral Prep game. I won't say what team this fan was rooting for, except he was in orange and black. Just about every call, he was complaining out loud. Yelled "You're trash" or "You're garbage" 3-4 times at an official. Then a lady next to him started yelling "Trash." The guy actually called an official "prick" and did it plenty loud enough for people to hear. Game workers or administration from the school must not have heard any of it. Or if they did, they did nothing. Then again, I've heard this act many times from fans.
LeboKid
11:41
Good morning, Mike.  Regarding the fracas at the Uniontown-Meadville game, and perhaps you may have already addressed this, but does the PIAA have official language in its by-laws regarding security and coordination with local law enforcement?  I realize that the adults involved acted idiotically, but I can't imagine that it doesn't exist.  If not, it's long overdue.  Appreciate your work.
Mike White
11:42
No. There is nothing in by-laws on how many security guards or game workers must be at a site. PIAA can't make that call. That's up to the schools involved. Besides, there was security at Uniontown-Meadville game.
royal alum
11:43
How does the PIAA put the 3rd place team in the Philly district in the West bracket for 4A?  If NC can't pull off the upset it will be an all Philly final in Hershey.  Keep the east teams in the east or put the lower ranked teams in the west.  Landsale has 2 D1 prospects on its team!
Mike White
11:54
Well let me try to explain and give you some facts. The PIAA broke down the true east and west brackets a while ago. It's because of the uneven number of teams in the east and west in some classifications. Let's use 4A girls as an example. 4A girls has 72 teams from the east and only 49 from the west. So the PIAA feels in those cases, the east should get more representation in the state playoffs. But to keep a 16-team bracket on both sides, a few east teams are put in the west bracket. But n 4A girls, there are only three teams from the east playing through the west.
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