You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.12.24
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Mike White
11:33
Seven-time defending champ is out. Went 7-5 this year.
Tim Walz
11:33
I have a lot of time on my hands now. Which game should I go to this weekend ?
Mike White
11:34
Number of good ones. 5A frays are very good. The 2A games have three 4,000 yard rushers. No semifinals has EVER had that. But I still think the two 5A games might be the best.
Secret Weapon
11:34
Who would you say is the "secret weapon" so to speak, for each team playing in 5a this weekend ?
Mike White
11:35
Watch for the foreign object or the sleeper hold.
Sites
11:35
Why does Jeanette have to make the trek to Washington County? Was Fort Cherry's homefield not available?
Mike White
11:36
Some sites you never can quite explain. But Fort Cherry is the No. 1 seed in Class 1A. Maybe that's why they're playing close to home.
JP
11:38
If Aliquippa doesn't go far in the playoffs next year, could they be moved down to 2A the year after?
Mike White
11:42
This situation is a little sticky. First question is will  Aliquippa be 4A again next year. The judge's ruling to keep Aliquippa in 4A was for one year. I don't know if any of that changed. But let's just say Aliquippa is 4A again next year. I'll try to explain. After losing in WPIAL semifinals, Aliquippa can't get enough "success points" to be moved up to 5A in 2026. However, if Aliquippa makes it to at least the WPIAL championship next year, they will stay in 4A in 2026 because of the number of transfers they have. If Aliquippa fails to make it to the WPIAL championship next year, Quips go to 3A in 2026. That is based on the classification you played last.
Projections
11:43
I am curious as to how the WPIAL school enrollments will look after the next cycle. The class of 2028... aka the enrollment cliff class will be counted in. They are a much smaller population of kids as people stopped having kids during the recession in 2009. I assume we will see some drastic changes in school populations
Mike White
11:43
Honestly, I'm not really sure about enrollments in schools for the future.
2A darlings
11:43
The paper picked Seton and SP in the 2A matchups.  I thought Ellwood City was the favorite?  Why the change?
Mike White
11:44
Well 2A darlings, those were the picks of the reporter who wrote the story - Colin Beazley. Who is the favorite? I don't know. I do know South Park was seeded No. 2 and Ellwood City No. 3.
JPnCV
11:45
Hi Mike. There are some really good football teams left in 3A. All 3 could beat each other on any single day. How do you think the WPIAL championship shakes out? Thanks!
Mike White
11:47
Imani Christian will be tough to beat, but they play an Avonworth team that really showed something in hammering a Beaver team. Beaver hammered Avonworth only two weeks earlier. Avonworth will likely turn to power against Imani. Tough to be against Duke Johncour. The other game has Central Valley and EF. Really good matchup. Make me pick and I'll probably go Imani and Central Valley.
Footie Fan
11:47
How many you got Bishop Canevin scoring against Clairton Friday?
Mike White
11:47
Two touchdowns at the very, very most.
Hooper
11:47
Meleek Thomas keeps claiming he is a "Pittsburgh" guy.  He went to a charter school almost in ohio, played his last high school season in atlanta, and chose Arkansas over Pitt.  Will anyone remember that his parents live in pittsburgh or claim him as a pgh guy?
Mike White
11:49
Well hey, Meleek did live in Pittsburgh as a youngster, moved back to Pittsburgh and attended North Hills as a 7th and 8th grader. He repeated 8th grade at Manchester Charter. Then he went to Lincoln Park in 9th-10th-11th. The whole time he lived in North Hills School District. So if you don't say he's from Pittsburgh, where do you suggest we say he's from?
40stripes-retired
11:49
Hi Mike.  Monaca barred me too.  So, I took assignments at Central Valley instead.  Maybe we can meet at a CV Saturday afternoon game this coming season.  You write the game story and I will observe the men in stripes.  We'll shoot up I-376 to New Castle afterward and meet Coach Blundo for a dish of ravioli at your favorite New Castle Italian place.
Mike White
11:49
Awwww yeahhhh!!! Going to Pagley's. The best. I just want some red sauce from Pagley's to bring home.
Tw
11:49
Barn burner at Martorelli….bring back the Rowdy Rooters!
Mike White
11:50
Too bad the house where the Rooters used to hang won't let them in any more.
Footie Fan
11:50
How many technical fouls have you received as basketball coach?
Mike White
11:50
As many as Draymond Green.
X
11:51
Dante Coury was injured in the first possession of the Peters Township game.  He missed the Bethel Park game,  I saw him for the first time against Penn Hills..very nice player.  I think he changes the dynamic quite a bit for them...now have Dahlem, Coury, and Banbury (215 lb sophomore that is a beast on the dives).  Hellman has also shown ability to scramble and run when he comes him.   First matchup was more like 28-7 against Peters as USC was just milking clock down the stretch. They could've tacked another one on.   PT receivers need to play much better in this one.   USC appeared to blanket them pretty easily in the first go around  Nevertheless, Diluccia threw some dimes that they missed.  PT can't have that because their running game is not good enough to run on USC.  USC kids pass the eye test... well built group of kids from top to bottom....and the "non-stars" are also good...lanky Biwalski at db/wr, the kicker, VanHelman at lb.  Reminds me a bit of  2021 Mt Lebo...cept no Lebo Joey Daniels at qb
Mike White
11:52
Geez. Lot to unpack there. Coury has really come on for USC. I really like USC's defense and their lines. I think Peters Township needs to have some success running the ball to win. Don't need a ton of yards, but some success. And DiLucia and McCullough need a couple big plays. But I think I'll take USC.
LeboKid
11:53
Mike: in keeping with my multi-sport athlete questions, what has become of the Great Joe Roth from Ellwood City? Terrific hooper and an even better swimmer.  Thanks!
Mike White
11:54
Well LeboKid, Joseph appears to be doing well in swimming at Ohio State. Example: A few weeks ago, was named the Big 10 Conference Freshman of the Week for swimming.
WPIAL Lifer
11:54
Monaca vs. Warren in PIAA state playoffs the year they won state title was an epic game. Warren had big John Bowen (6-foot-9) but Monacca had Bruce Flemming and a lot of skill guys. Old school classic! Too bad you're barred from their gym this year lol
Mike White
11:56
I remember both of those guys well. Bruce Fleming went to Miami and was a linebacker. Was he on national championship team as a backup? And believe it or not, I do remember covering Monaca basketball in either a WPIAL or PIAA playoff game at Chartiers Valley. Larry DeVincentis hit a late shot to win it. And John Bowen of Warren went to Notre Dame for basketball.
NC Retired
11:56
Hi Mike. You are the best. When are you coming to  New Castle? Pagley's sauce is as good as ever!
Mike White
11:56
Can you mail me some? Ha ha.
Hooper
11:56
I'm just saying, if thomas is going to claim a city maybe he should in some way be part of the city.  Morton was all about being a Butler guy and gallagher was a proud LH guy.  Both were a part of the community and gave back.  Thomas isn't.  Dajuan Blair was a real pgh guy.
Mike White
11:57
I hear what you're saying. Thomas is nothing like those other guys you mentioned.
40stripes-retired
11:57
Awwww Yeahhhh!  A Deuce classic!  I have my Deuce trading card posted on my office cork board.  I miss running into Deuce.  I still remember your line in the Deuce documentary - "Deuce killed him." - made me burst out laughing.  And for Pagley's sauce - try Mama Pia's.  You can buy it at your local grocery store named after a large bird.  You won't regret it, I promise.
Mike White
11:57
I miss Deuce a lot.
BBall
11:57
I Know he’s not in PA anymore, but what are your thoughts about Meleek Thomas committing to Arkansas, good move?
Mike White
12:00
No surprise. I will say John Calipari was recruiting Meleek for a while. So I'm sure that had something to do with it. But what else had something to do with it? NIL money. Arkansas can pay a ton and many always thought Meleek would go to some place where he got a heckuva NIL deal. I mean, an Arkansas web site had a quote from him recently where he said one of the big reasons he would choose a school would be the one that takes care of his family. I THINK most, if not all, of his family is with him in Atlanta in Overtime Elite league.
X
12:00
I thought Penn Hills would be a tough out for USC. based on watching them against PR and Aliquippa  They were.  USC didn't get a first down until about 6 minutes left in the first half.  To USC's credit, they made some adjustments in the second half.  Namely a formation I hadn't seen them run before..an offset 3 back set up with 2 backs upfront. That seemed to do the trick. The killer was a fumble by PH's qb that was returned for a td.   PH's is a very physical team.  If you aren't, in big trouble against USC. That line is very good.  Stohl impresses every time i see him.  And they have a 6'3 260 lb tight end to seal the edge.   I hope to see them play PR.  That would be a good one.
Connecting…