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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.22.22
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Mike White
10:53
Well, it's state championship time for basketball. Culmination of what is my favorite time of year. Nine WPIAL teams have made it to state finals. I think we're lucky if four come home with state titles. Well let's get started. Store now open for questions.
Anon
10:53
Will there be a baseball preview this week? Who are your top teams in each class?
Mike White
10:54
Yes, there will be baseball preview, softball preview and sprint sports preview in Thursday's Varsity Xtra section and on line. I'm not giving away our No.1 teams. You'll have to check the previews to find out. Shameless plug for the previews.
Fred
10:54
Do the quips, QV, or new castle have any chance vs the private/charters? Good chance all 6 boys winners are private/charter
Mike White
11:00
No chance. They should just not go to Hershey. Don't start this again. Of course, they have a chance. Not a good chance, I don't think. But a chance. Imhotep is loaded with a few of the top players in the country in their classes. Imhotep plays New Castle and Imhotep has 6-7 junior forward Justin Edwards, 6-1 sophomore point guard Ahmad Nowell and 6-foot junior point guard Rahmir Barno. Edwards is No. 8 player in his class. Kentucky, Villanova and Virginia have offered. Nowell is No. 23 player in his class. Kansas and Auburn have both offered Nowell won a state championship in Tennessee last year. Neumann-Goretti, who plays Quaker Valley, has a player who was in St. Louis last year and is from England. It just goes on and on with these teams. So let the complaints begin from those who want separate championships for public and private/charter schools.
11:04
The thing about public private/charter schools is you ask just about any of the public schools. They don't want to play these teams in playoffs. But we're beating a dead horse. PIAA isn't going to change. And remember, Philadelphia is so much bigger than Pittsburgh and their inner-city basketball talent is worlds ahead of Pittsburgh. So those kids have to play somewhere. But get this if you don't think there isn't an uneven playing field: Archbishop Wood of Philly Catholic League is in the 6A title game against Roman Catholic of Philly Catholic League. Wood has on its school web site that it has students from 24 zip codes. I said 24!!!!!!! And the are proud of it. A WPIAL 5A or 6A schools might have students from 3 or maybe 4 zip codes. Now do you see the difference?
Cooper
11:04
Have a feeling attendance is going to be all time bad at the state championships due to all the privates. And with 7/10 of the public schools being from the wpial, crowds will be sparse. Giant center does not attract a basketball crowd.
Mike White
11:07
Attendance has been down for a number of years since Philly Catholic and Public League schools were let in. Their fans don't seem to care much and those charter schools bring sometimes 100-200 fans. No lie. But it's not the Giant Center's fault. I don't want to place blame, but let's face facts. The drop in attendance is the Philly schools fault. Consider: From 2004-07, the title games drew at least 30,000 fans every year. But from 2008 through last year, the games drew fewer than 20,000 fans eight times, and that includes years when there were six classifications instead of four. Philly schools joined around 2008.
Coach O
11:07
Mike, given your 40+ years covering western PA high school sports, Just, what are your thoughts on what I think is an amazing story even given Aliquippa standards, of the success of football/ basketball teams this year? I mean, two state championship games, while playing up in classification, all five basketball players not only on the football team but key contributors to it, and the clincher, four of them are sophomores! Are you kidding me?
Mike White
11:08
Yes, it is a wonderful story. One that has been told numerous times. I think the fact that they are in state basketball championship starting four sophomores is phenomenal. But I'll be honest. Not meant to cut down Aliquippa's basketball achievement, but 3A basketball on this side of the state is not real good. I think that has helped.
WPIAL Hoops
11:08
What are some of the boys and girls basketball jobs that have opened up already?
Mike White
11:09
In boys, I know Moon and Ellwood City. But there are others. Ellwood City's Steve Antuono won WPIAL title last year. Wants to see his son play in college.
WPIAL Hoops Fan
11:09
Since New Castle is being forced to 6A, would that mean they will move to the North section with PCC? Does that put Hempfield and Norwin to the South Hills?
Mike White
11:09
Basketball section alignments come out soon, now that bump-ups in class are known. But I think you got it right on the nose.
Mastroianni’s Sweater Vest
11:12
The two headed monster of Markus Frank and Adou Thiero of QV has been fun to watch this year.  I would consider both Fab 5 contenders!  Any recent same team “pairings” on Fab 5 teams?
Mike White
11:14
Yes, they are both strong candidates. But it's happened six times since 2001. Allderdice's James Jackson and Ramon Creighton in 2016. New Castle's Anderson and Hooker in 2013. Schenley's Kennedy and Blair in both 2006-07. Aliquippa's Pope and Baldwin in 2007. Blackhawk's Tielsch and Fuss-Cheatham in 2001.
WPIAL
11:15
How do you see canevin state championship game going?
Mike White
11:15
Won't be easy. St. John Neumann not big but really good guards. Davion Hill, a 6-1 junior guard, averages 26. Maryland has offered.
Mastroianni’s Sweater Vest
11:15
It’s quite obvious the Philly Catholic League is the best in PA.  How do
Mike White
11:16
Get out. Really?
Money
11:16
How many wpial boys hoops teams do you see winning state
Mike White
11:16
Two at the most.
Cash
11:16
What WPIAL boys Basketball team has the best shot at winning their state
Mike White
11:16
Probably OLSH or Bishop Canevin.
Mastroianni’s Sweater Vest
11:16
It’s quite obvious that the Philly Catholic League is the best in PA.  How do all those players afford paying to go to a big time program like that?  Are kids awarded scholarships based on athletic ability?  Wouldn’t that be considered athletic intent?  Don’t some local programs (OLSH, Canevin, Sewickley Academy) offer these scholarships too?  Seems like dunking a basketball shouldn’t be a requirement to get financial aid.  Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:18
I have no idea who pays and who doesn't. But you know they don't all pay. Sometimes, alumni scholarships kick in. And there's always the "financial aid based on need." And funny how that works. If a team "needs" you, they somehow find you "aid."
TW
11:18
Lots of teams made good runs thru the playoffs but the teams that defended came out on top…high hopes with Western Pa. Well represented in Hershey…lots of very well coached teams.
Mike White
11:19
Some excellent coached teams. But I don't care if you have Coach K, you aren't beating some of these Philly teams. But I wouldn't be surprised if some of the WPIAL teams at least play with them. Hey, OLSH beat a Philly team last year in Constitution.
Mastroianni’s Sweater Vest
11:19
With WPIAL Boys teams in the 1A-5A title games and the 6A game between PCL programs, I guess we won’t see any WPIAL Zebras on the games this weekend.  Any chance a WPIAL crew would ref a title game with a WPIAL team in it?
Mike White
11:19
I don;t think so.
Mastroianni’s Sweater Vest
11:20
Heard a lot of complaints out of the Philly folk online this week that they want the state title games played at the Palestra in Philly.  I get there is a bidding process, but I would love to see a 6 year “rotation” of the games between Pittsburgh, State College, Hershey, Philly, Scranton, and Erie.  Actually think it could help attendance.  Your thoughts?  I know the PIAA is too close minded to think out of the box like this though.
Mike White
11:21
Here's the thing. A facility has to "want" to host the games. I don't ever remember hearing the Palestra put in a request to host the games. Or Erie. The Pete has but not PPG. I don't think there's much interest from Philly to host the games.
Money
11:21
What happened in that north Catholic Girls game
Mike White
11:21
Freedom won.
Canes Cuz
11:21
Are you doing your weekly podcast this week?  I looked for it yesterday but didn't see it.
Mike White
11:21
Some sicknesses. Taping it tomorrow.
Canes Cuz
11:21
The PIAA may not like to rule on the transfers to the private schools, but they aren't going to like the attendance numbers this weekend in Hershey either.  I would think the only schools that will be a sizable crowd will the the 3 public ones on the boys side.
Mike White
11:22
I touched on attendance issue up above in chat. Check it out.
Ron
11:22
Hi Mike. Imhotep is a top 15-team nationally and half the team, it seems, has interest from Division I schools. New Castle struggled with Penn Hills size and athleticism. What will it take for the underdog 'Canes to pull out a win?
Mike White
11:24
A monumental effort. But New Castle always plays hard and plays pretty good defense. They will be overmatched. NC must have a terrific night shooting 3's.
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