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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.29.19
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Mike White
10:59
Well, another beauty of a Tuesday. Seems like every Tuesday for this chat is nice. But never mind the weather. Time to talk. WPIAL playoff pairings are out. I'm sure some people aren't happy although I don't think it was too hard to seed playoffs this year, with a few exceptions.
Wike Mhite
11:00
Bigger surprise: Montour receiving an 8 seed despite the strong finish OR StoRox vs Jeannette as a 1st rd matchup?  (Or something else I’m not thinking of...)
Mike White
11:02
I think Sto-Rox vs. Jeannette. I don't think Montour should've received an 8 seed, but they did finish fourth in the conference when you consider tiebreakers. And they did lose to New Castle. WPIAL said it didn't want to put West Mifflin against TJ two weeks in a row. I think right now, even though West Mifflin beat New Castle earlier this season, West Mifflin is the No. 8 seed. Them or New Castle. But I understand the logic.
11:03
I don't agree with West Greene getting to play Jeannette. I think Jeannette is really a No. 2 or 3 seed. But they have to be at least 5 because they can't have a home game. But shouldn't Jeannette get to play the lowest home team? I think that is unquestionably West Greene, just because of past Tri-County South lack of success and how they were thrashed by Clairton. Jeannette gave Clairton a much better game. I think Jeannette should be playing West Greene and GCC playing Sto-Rox. Sto-Rox certainly got no bargain for winning its conference.
Wike Mhite
11:04
Mike - any dark horse picks this year? (ie lesser discussed team) that could make a run to the final?
Mike White
11:05
I don't know if Peters Township would be a darkhorse. They are good. But they are No. 5 seed. They are good enough to get to finals. And watch Brentwood in Class 2A. Of course, East Allegheny could give them trouble.
Old timer
11:06
Mike, so many people accept what the WPIAL rules as “right”, wondering what you thought about single A selection process that carved out Laurel’s path to playoffs by eliminating them from a tie breaker win over GCC. WPIAL uses the team’s “section place” that resulted from “section tie breaker” instead of intersection rie breaker i.e. nfl, mlb, nhl, wpial baseball ..... I see that Laurel (5-2) was shut after beating two playoff selections in Sto Rocks and California. Shouldn’t the WPIAL at least attempt to get the best teams in and if so would it not be appropriate to have a real at large selection making GCC compete head to head with Laurel for the spot. If so, Laurel would be in and GCC out. They are rewarding poor section schedule and sending a bad message. Please don’t take the WPIAL LINE “ well that’s the way it’s set up”.
Mike White
11:12
Well Old Timer, that's a long question and I'm not quite sure I understand all of it. Look, I'm no fan of Class 1A playoff system. I think it's flawed. I think they should take 12 teams (top four in each conference) and give four byes. So what if you don't have four games at Heinz Field. But your logic is flawed. You talk about "intersection tiebreaker." No idea what that means. Look, Laurel finished fourth in its conference. They tied for third, but lost a tiebreaker to OLSH. Laurel has a 7-3 record. Shame they are not in playoffs. But they finished fourth in conference. WPIAL takes only three teams. You say Laurel has a tiebreaker win over GCC. Laurel didn't play GCC. GCC has same 7-3 record as Laurel and they have two common opponents - Clairton and Cornell. GCC gave Clairton a much better game than Laurel, losing only 21-14. Both GCC and Laurel lost to Cornell.
StanM
11:12
Who wins 2A?  Seems like people are focused on the absence of Kyros Thorpe for the Antelopes.  It should be noted that Avonworth beat McGuffey handily (it was 34-6 when they pulled the starters) while missing 4 starters, including Thorpe.  The other 3 will all be back this week.  Wash has been missing Dylan Asbury most of the year... does he return for the playoffs?
Mike White
11:15
Yes, Thorpe didn't play three of the last four games and Avonworth still won. Avonworth is good. They are good enough to win it. As for Asbury, I don't think he will be back.
Ballerz
11:15
Any surprising seeds for the WPIAL football playoffs?
Mike White
11:16
We talked above about some surprises. Surprised West Greene gets to play GCC. Surprised Sto-Rox and Jeannette have to play in first round. Those are the biggest surprises.
Ballerz
11:16
Which game is the most intriguing first round matchup?
Mike White
11:17
Upper St. Clair at North Hills. That's an 8-9 matchup. Like NCAA tourney, 8-9 matchups are usually pretty good. Jeannette at Sto-Rox is good. I like Beaver Falls at Derry, East Allegheny and Brentwood, Seneca at Mt. Lebanon, Baldwin at McKeesport and Franklin Regional-Moon.
Ballerz
11:17
CV put a hurting on the Quips last week... Not surprised CV won but surprised on how bad they beat up the Quips. Thoughts on this game?
Mike White
11:19
Yes, you can't be all that surprised Central Valley won. Heck, CV  beat Quips last year and CV was .500 team. But I researched it and found this was worst loss at home by Aliquippa team since Aliquippa started playing under the Aliquippa High School name in 1930. That makes it astonishing.
2A Fan
11:19
Mike, with the 2A bracket coming out last night, it seems pretty clear to me that the WPIAL doesn't really consider "true seeds" as much as it does avoiding conference matchups in the first 2 rounds. Seems strange that they would put Brentwood at the 5 and McGuffey as the 6 considering McGuffey's only losses were to the top 2 teams in 2A. Seeing the bracket, who do you like to advance to the final 4?
Mike White
11:22
I don't have a problem in a 16-team bracket of not putting teams in same conference against each other in first round. I also would've had McGuffey at No. 5, but Brentwood is no slouch. Lost to undefeated Burgettstown by only 16-13. Plus, if you put Brentwood at No. 6 and McGuffey at No. 5, you have Brentwood playing Burgettstown again in the quarterfinals, provided Burgettstown beats Riverside.
Mr Wonderful
11:22
If USC doesn't get out of the first round is Mike Junko's job in danger ?
Mike White
11:22
Please, Mr. Wonderful. Just stop it.
Wike Mhite
11:22
Odds of Aliquippa’s Heinz Field streak ending this year?  I assume VERY low and we should expect to see the Quips at their “home away from home” in 3 weeks.
Mike White
11:24
I would be very surprised to see Aliquippa lose before the finals. Although I've said all along no way this team is as good as last year's. Just don't have the same playmakers. Still, Aliquippa is good enough to win WPIAL and PIAA titles again. But Central Valley is my pick in 3A. Central Valley obviously is good. They have skill and linemen are decent also.
Jim Logan
11:24
Surprised Moon also received 4 seed
Mike White
11:25
Not at all. They got No. 1 seed in a very competitive conference. Where would you put them? Maybe at No 3, but that's it. Moon's defense is very good, but I have some questions about the offense.
Where’s Batko
11:25
I like how physical this Beaver Falls team is. They had Central Valley on the ropes before self destructing. They are a sleeper in 3A
Mike White
11:25
I would agree. I think Beaver Falls can win at Derry.
DT
11:25
Thoughts on 4 seed Derry in the playoffs?  They lost to 3 seed North Catholic earlier this season by only 10 points, and have played very well since then. Central Valley looks pretty good though, not sure anyone beats them.
Mike White
11:26
What a job Tim Sweeney has done at Derry. Finals last year. Good again this year after losing some key players. Justin Huss is running wild. Over 400 yards last week and over 300 the week before. But they have a tough one against Beaver Falls and then will likely get Mount Pleasant.
Rob
11:26
How surprised were you to see Central Valley win 45-6 at the Pit in Quip ? Also did the Center Trojans ever win a game there in that program history before merging with Monaca into Central Valley ?
Mike White
11:29
Read above. It's the worst home loss in Aliquippa history. Not sure if Center ever won there. Center had 3-25 record against Aliquippa all time. Beat Quips in 1994, 1998 and 2002. The 2002 game was at Center. Not sure about other two.
Dahntahn Sinkhole
11:32
Since we are almost done with football and moving into hoops who do you think the best two sport (football/basketball) player is in the WPIAL?
Mike White
11:32
I'd have to think of that one. But Mars' Michael Carmody and Highlands' Johnny Crise come to mind right away. McGuffey's C.J. Cole and even Cornell's Zaier Harrison come to mind.
Jim Logan
11:32
Mike - In 5A do you think moon is a contender?
Mike White
11:33
Yes, without a doubt. But I don't think they get to finals.
Dahntahn Sinkhole
11:33
As a follow up to the two sport athlete question.  If you were an AD and were starting a football and basketball program who would you take: Terrell Pryor or Phil Jurkovec?
Mike White
11:34
Pryor. A freak athlete. Phil was also special. I'd take Phil as a pure quarterback but Pryor as the two-sport guy.
Alex
11:34
Do you think Apollo-Ridge can defNew Brighton and have a rematch with (most likely) Avonworth in the next round?
Mike White
11:34
Without a doubt they can beat New Brighton. Doesn't mean they will but it's a close game.
Guest
11:35
Moon has been underdogs all year. Any thoughts on them?
Mike White
11:35
Look at above. Moon's defense will let them play with anyone. Strong, physical defense. Some question marks about offense. They are good, but I don't think good enough to win it.
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