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Mike White's high school sports chat: 05.12.20
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Mike White
11:03
Good morning, and good news. There are no high school sports, but there are certainly some notable things happening in WPIAL in past few days. Coaching changes, national federation voting down shot clock rule for basketball and WPIAL just released its new section alignments. Let's go. Fire away.
Jojo
11:03
whats your thoughts on CC moving to a new section for boys basketball? seems odd.
Mike White
11:06
Not at all. Some would say it's odd that Central played in the northern section for a lot of years. Now they are in a section with teams from the east, except Fox Chapel. Not odd at all. Over the years, Central has played in section with teams from east. So it's not odd. Plus, it's a good move for competitiveness. Let's face it, that section was proven to be very weak last season. And without Central, it would've had only five teams and been even weaker this season. So Central at least gives it a little more competitiveness. If you're going to have three section 6A, I think Central is now where it belongs, for a few reasons.
littleschool
11:06
Some schools have been forced to move up a class for football and basketball.  Is there also a path for them to move back down again. If so, what do they need to do in order to move back down.
Mike White
11:06
It's all based on school enrollment.
Mike
11:06
Have you heard anything about the Moon Girls Basketball coach search?
Mike White
11:06
Have not.
Todd
11:07
How in the world could the PIAA rule in favor of North Catholic’s girls team when it comes to the competitive balance formula?  That school’s teams are made up of transfers every year.  The students choose to go there each year, thus the students are transfers each year.  The PIAA’s decision is a contradiction of its own rule.
Mike White
11:08
What? Never heard this absurd logic about "transfers." But North Catholic did not have a transfer the past two years. There was nothing for the PIAA to rule about. North Catholic had one player on its roster the past two years who wasn't on the previous season. But she was not a transfer. Case closed.
Baller
11:09
Only 5 teams in the 6A north section for boys b-ball? 8 section games seems odd. How many teams from that section will make the playoffs?
Mike White
11:11
WPIAL exec. director Amy Scheuneman said board of directors will discuss playoff qualifiers at meeting next week. Look for it to stay at four and I'm good with that. The only thing is 6A girls. Class 6A girls had only two sections the past two years and will have only two again next season, while Class 6A boys has three. Next season, Class 6A boys will have 17 teams in three sections while Class 6A girls will have 15 teams in two sections. I really think WPIAL needs to change playoff qualifiers for 6A girls sections. Take five from each section.
11:14
As for only five teams in Class 6A northern boys section ... If you're going to have three sections in 6A, one is going to have only five teams. It's not the first time the WPIAL has had a five team section. But I know there is concern among coaches and others in that five-team section about playing only eight section games. Do you know how hard it will be to get 14 non-section games? Basically 14 games that don't mean anything. Some in that section are asking to let them play 12 section games (play each team three times). I think it's a good idea. I've looked it up, in the past WPIAL has let five team sections play each team three times. I think it should be done again.
Old guy
11:14
Avonworth hire was surprising. An in house assistant football coach with no Head-coaching experience.
Mike White
11:16
Well, everyone has to get their first head coaching job at some point. Mike Mancuso was hired at Avonworth last night. He's been an assistant at a few places and a football assistant. Was defensive coordinator for football team last year. He will give up football job. Why not give him a chance, if you believe in him? Plus, he's already a phys ed teacher in the district. So Avonworth didn't have to find him a teaching job.
D9 Dave
11:16
What is it going to take to get the shot clock rule passed by the NFHS?  Do you think PA should go ahead and at least put it to a vote and adopt it if passed at the state level? Are you in favor of a 35 second clock or something else?  It's the way the game is played nowadays and the majority of players, coaches, and fans I believe would like to see it.
Mike White
11:18
I am certainly in favor of a 35-second shot clock. I think it would be fun. People come up with drawbacks. Cost is one of them. But nine other states make it work. I think most coaches want it also. I do think it would hurt teams that are not as talented as their opponent, but overall it would be good for the game. PIAA could adopt it if they really wanted, but they are going by the notion that they follow NFHS rules.
5A Fanatic
11:18
Thoughts on New Castle moving up to 5A in the boys bracket?  If I recall they have most of their team returning.  Are you aware of the other teams in 5A that will contend with them to win the WPIAL?  Thanks.
Mike White
11:20
New Castle will be very good in 5A. They would be good in any classification. As for rest of 5A, Mars should still be pretty good. Number of kids return. Laurel Highlands still has Rodney Gallagher. And Penn Hills will still be very good. And don't forget Highlands won WPIAL 4A and moves up to 5A, although Highlands lost its top players.
Guest
11:20
Has NA hired a new boys basketball coach yet?
Mike White
11:21
No.
jack
11:21
Any chance Lincoln Park wins their appeal. It is a complete joke that they are even appealing.
Mike White
11:22
I have a better chance of winning Power Ball than Lincoln Park has of winning appeal.
Pants
11:22
For sections with unbalanced number of teams, it's unfair to have same number of playoff spots for sections with 7 and 6 in the same class, right?  Is there anyway around that?
Mike White
11:23
No, it's not unfair. You're not going to have the same number of teams in all sections. Can
11:24
To continue with previous answer, it's not unfair. You can't have equal number of teams in sections when there is odd number of teams in class. And c'mon. Four teams from each section make the playoffs? FOUR!!!! If you can't make it with four, please don't cry it's not fair.
The Ham
11:24
any predictions on where Davis and Ford will choose to play CFB?
Mike White
11:24
No predictions from me yet.
Be Like Mike White
11:24
Sending New Castle to that section seems odd don’t ya think?
Mike White
11:27
Well where else would you put them? No matter where you put New Castle in 5A, it's not going to be good. True, if they played in Section 4, Mars would be closer for them. But Section 4 has Armstrong, Highlands, Indiana, Plum. You really want New Castle to travel to those places. New Castle's section has Char Valley, Moon, South Fayette, Trinity, West A. Not optimum, but most of them they can come right down I-79. Section 1 has Al Gallatin, Connellsville, Laurel Highlands. Can't put New Castle there. Section 3 is full of teams in east. That would be horrible travel. So where do you want them to go?
Hooper
11:28
Any news on NA boys coaching position?
Mike White
11:28
None.
Scott
11:28
Any word when baseball sections will be announced.
Mike White
11:28
Some time soon.
tad
11:28
suprised north catholic girls moved down to 3a, i understand its due to enrollment but they will reload as always, figured they would play up to "compete" in 4a, any thoughts on if anyone will stop their reign? history says no
Mike White
11:31
North Catholic will always be competitive. But you do know they started five seniors this year, right? They will most certainly not be the same next season. And look, they are in section with defending WPIAL 3A champ Mohawk, and also Laurel, which was in Class 2A final this year. Both of those teams were also young. Laurel started three freshmen. Mohawk started only one senior. So North Catholic will definitely get some competition in its new section.
Pants
11:32
Best thing you mentioned is 6A girls should have more playoff teams.  Last year 50% of 6A girls teams made playoffs (8/16) yet 12/18 from 6A boys for 66%.  That's way out of balance, and hope the WPIAL changes it!
Mike White
11:32
I agree. If you're going to take 12 in 6A boys with 17 teams, you can't take only eight in 6A girls with 15 teams.
Steve
11:33
For all the NA boys questions, as of right now, AD Bob Bozzuto has not placed anything in the board agenda for tomorrow’s board meeting.
Mike White
11:34
Tomorrow's meeting is a work session/special meeting. Next week's meeting is a regular meeting. I think that's when hiring would take place.
mwheat
11:34
you do know north catholic is a private school right? and one of their stud seniors tranferred in? they will just reload, they should have moved up to 5A, sad!
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