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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.25.25
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Mike White
11:03
One-hundred five years ago, the first state championships in basketball were played (no, I didn't cover them). McAdoo defeated Conneautville, 57-28, in the first title game. There was only one PIAA championship then. There was no girls basketball. Things are just a tad different for this weekend's title games. So let's talk. Chat is now open.
Mr Ed
11:03
Are you traveling to Hershey for the Private School Invitational? Especially the boys, 10 of 12 privates. Worst thing to me about it is the empty arena and no atmosphere for the games. At least it will be rocking Friday night for Hershey high school game.
Mike White
11:04
Yes, I will be going to Hershey and yes, this is the time of year when the public vs. private thing really heats up. And it should be a hot subject again this year because only seven of the 24 teams in the finals are from public schools with geographic boundaries.
Dog
11:04
How excited are you for the same old private school complaints that won't change no matter how much they yell?
Mike White
11:06
I'm not tired of the complaints. They're legit. But PIAA administration has made it clear that nothing is going to change, saying they can't because of 1972 law. But there is definite gray area in that law.
Mr. Pleasant
11:06
I know there is nothing we (the public) can do about it, but 10 of 12 spots on the boys' side in Hershey are non-boundary schools.  I guess the coaches of the public school just have to learn to to coach better.   Nobody at the PIAA sees a problem with this?  Aside from the Hershey 5A game, attendance is going to be very low this year.
Mike White
11:08
Yes, attendance will probably not be good. As I said in above post, all of the complaints are legit and understandable. But what can be done when PIAA doesn't want a change? As for attendance, what's funny is how the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs and the city championship get big, big crowds at Palestra. Like sellout crowds of more than 9,000. But for state championships, Philly schools draw very little. Fans don't seem to care about it.
Mr. Pleasant
11:09
Tony DiCenzo at South Allegheny is my pick for this area's coach of the year!  I know I don't have a vote on the PG staff, but what he has built there with a community that never really had any basketball coach is more impressive than what many of the other private school coaches are doing by hauling kids in and coaching all star teams.
Mike White
11:12
Mine is only one vote at Post-Gazette for coach of the year. High school staff will pick it. But Tony would get my vote. What he's done with that program is ultra-impressive. Do you know before Tony came on board, South Allegheny had won three WPIAL playoff games in school history and got to the quarterfinals only once (1997). They had won only one first round game and two preliminary round games before Tony. Now look at the Gladiators.
Mr. Pleasant
11:13
Is Sewickley Academy riding a bus or a charter plane to Hershey for their game?  I'm not sure how much money was in the basketball budget there.
Mike White
11:13
I'll have to check with their transportation director.
Dog
11:13
My Fab Five Picks: Carmichael, Robbins, Wallace, Pratt, Sow. 6th Man - Sledge
Mike White
11:13
Thanks.
Mr. Pleasant
11:13
I know you usually wrap up these chats up after basketball season but I hope you continue this in the Fall of 2025.  Always fun to read the chat.
Mike White
11:14
Plan is to do chat again in football-basketball. I usually don't do it in the spring. Doesn't seem to be that much interest in it during spring months.
Quaker State
11:14
It's a shame at Quaker Valley's Adou Thiero may not be ready to play in the Hogs' Sweet 16 game this week.  With NIL, do you think there is a chance he stays there another year?  I think he got about $1 million to play for them this year.
Mike White
11:17
I don't know what he got in NIL but I'm sure it was a lot. But I see in a lot of mock drafts that he is projected to be a late first-rounder. I have no inside info, but if I had to guess, I'd say he goes pro. And don't forget, Meleek Thomas will be at Arkansas next year. I've heard he will get a pretty penny in NIL, too. Like, lots of money. But it's the world of college sports now. Why do you think Sean Miller left Xavier for Texas? Just a little easier to get players with all of Texas' NIL money. Xavier can't compare, at least in terms of NIL.
Billy Boy
11:17
I see the Hopewell Boys' Basketball job is open.  Does Doug Biega find himself back on the sidelines next year wearing Hopewell gear?
Mike White
11:18
Don't be surprised if Doug Biega is involved or possibly even gets the job. That good 9th grade group that Hopewell has? He coached them from third grade through eighth grade. By the way, for those who don't know - Biega is highly successful former Beaver Falls coach. Stay tuned on this one.
Todd
11:19
17 out of 24 basketball state finalists (71%) are non-boundary schools.  Something has to give.  I know this is debated every year, but  to have only 1 public school champion guaranteed (6A girls) is ridiculous.  Non-boundary schools make up 9% of all schools in PA. Everyone can see the disparity.  The PIAA is gutless and refuses to make a decision or even take a stance, pawning the responsibility off on the legislature.
Mike White
11:21
I think I've heard this complaint before. Your figures are correct. Complaint after complaint is made. But like I said before, nothing will happen as long as PIAA administrators don't want to do anything. Again, they saw 1970s law prevents them.
Tom from Turtle Creek
11:21
Any chance the PG will fix the previous seasons section?  It only allows you to look up the past 2 years and no further...
Mike White
11:22
Yes, it has been down for a while. Our tech people say the platform for previous seasons has crashed and needs fixed, which takes a lot of time. We are hopeful to have it fixed in the summer. We know it's a popular thing. Heck, I miss it.
The Elephant in the Room
11:22
Hi it's me, the Elephant in the Room.  Just here to say that its insane to see these private all-star teams beating up on small public schools throughout the state playoffs.  Just saw a kid from Neumann-Goretti play for Baylor last weekend and turns out he is from Wilmington, Delaware.  Why are kids that live in Delaware competing in a PA State Championship?
Mike White
11:23
I'm not saying it's right, but it's where you go to school, not where you live. Kids have been winning state titles in Philly and lived in another state for a while now. St. Joe's Prep has numerous ones in football. Crazy, isn't it?
Screamin' Joe
11:24
Let's take the conversation THIS WAY!  Spring sports are rolling and have been since March 3rd....why are teams still playing basketball 4 weeks after the Spring Season started?  I know the Giant Center had something booked last weekend, but it seems crazy to change everyone else's schedule to accommodate the Giant Center.  Especially when most games will have less than 1,000 people there.
Mike White
11:25
Yes, there was a problem with scheduling at Giant Center. But this is only a week later than what was originally scheduled. And it should be known that Giant Center was only place that bid to host championships. But sorry, most games there will have more than 1,000. And if you take championships out of big arena, there will be complaints from everywhere.
Screamin' Joe
11:25
When you are watching March Madness, what is your wing place?  BWW, Big Shot Bob's, Wing Stop, or something off the board?
Mike White
11:27
Archie's, baby. And if you go, ask Arch to bring up his section championship plaque from old Boyle High in the early 1980s. And get fuffalo and spicy ranch. And Hal's, too, in North Hills. But honestly, I'll eat wings anywhere.
Fight Night
11:27
When will Fab 5 and Coach of the Year come out, first weekend of April?
Mike White
11:28
Fab 5 and players of the year first Sunday in April. All-section teams, all-WPIAL and all-City teams, as well as coach of the year, four days later on Thursday. Not only will they be on our web site, but in print editions that day.
TW
11:28
South Fayette LADY LIONS FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS….lots of players returning and an outstanding 8th grade class.  Bryan Bennett doing an outstanding job!
Mike White
11:29
Another impressive run by South Fayette and B.B. Can they win state this time? And they are young. South Fayette going to be good again next year and beyond. I really like the Lamonde player.
mike white fan
11:29
The PIAA and their lawyers need a lesson in reading comprehension, because that 1972 law clearly says they have be included. It does not say who they have to play.
Mike White
11:29
Yep.
old Timer
11:30
If Mayo or Shacter are not on the Fab 5 I will be cancelling my subscription to the PG.
Mike White
11:30
You're so intelligent.
SEED IT
11:31
Hi Mike,  What are your thoughts about seeding the PIAA tournament to get the perceived two best teams together in the championship?  It is obvious that geographical concerns are not a thought when creating the current bracket.  So, why not seed the teams by how good the teams are to try to get 1 vs. 2 together at the end?  I am sure that of course people would complain about their seeds, but that is no different than the WPIAL seeding their tournament.  In my humble opinion there should not be two district 12 teams playing for the championship in the largest classification unless they are regarded as the number 1 and 2 teams in the state and have been seeded that. Thanks
Mike White
11:33
You could seed teams, but I think people would complain even more. I mean, how many people do you think are really qualified and know enough to seed teams from both sides of the state? Especially in smaller classes. PIAA did away with true east-west brackets years ago. I don't like it, either. But if you want to seed teams, regardless of geography, I would've seeded Father Judge and Roman Catholic No. 1 and 2 in 6A. So ...
Mr Ed
11:34
I thought this question would have been asked already so I’ll put it into the queue, what’s your prediction for titles won by WPIAL this weekend?
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