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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.05.24
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Mike White
10:57
Make sure y'all vote today --- for player of the year in Western Pa. football. And now, let's chat.
3a hoops
10:57
do you expect basketball to continue to have the lower seeds host first round playoff games?
Mike White
10:57
Yes
Wash co. Balll
10:57
Hi Mike love the chat.  early predictions for boys 3a section winners?
Mike White
11:00
Wow. That is pretty specific. Man, official basketball practice hasn't even started and you want me to pick section winners??? OK. Aliquippa in Section 1, Bishop Canevin in Section 2, Seton LaSalle in Section 3 and I have no idea in four --- although Charleroi now has the roughest, toughest -- and oldest -- coaching staff in WPIAL. Ha ha. Great to see. Joe Dunn is out of retirement to take over as head coach and believe this -- the mayor of Brookline (Johnny Lee) is his assistant. Pregame meetings are at Coach's Bottle Shop.
Phenomenon
11:01
When it comes to WPIAL sports, its becoming pretty common for the same schools to win most of the championships. They also happen to be the schools in the upper socioeconomic areas of Pittsburgh. Part of this is due to the year round financial commitment of sports nowadays. How do we stop sports from becoming a situation in which only the wealthy are likely to succeed?
Mike White
11:06
I only agree with you partly. Most definitely in the sports of golf, tennis, soccer and even baseball and softball, schools from upper socioeconomic areas win. But let's take a look at football this year. Sure, teams like North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Upper St. Clair are doing well. But what about Woodland Hills (conference champ), Aliquippa (always a power), Steel Valley (finals past two years), Clairton (perennial power)? ... and I could name others who aren't exactly from upper middle to upper class and are doing well. So it's not all the wealthy who are succeeding. And even moreso in basketball.
Mr Ed
11:07
Not to pick on Beaver Falls, but this year they went 0-10 after four straight championship game appearances. Over your coverage years, can you recall such a precipitous drop off occurring to another team? Just really surprising a program with their history dropped off so severely in talent.
Mike White
11:08
It really is something how Beaver Falls fell so far and so hard. They were in a title game the past four years and didn't win a game this year. They have a new coach and lost every starter from last year. Not much was expected from them this year, but I certainly didn't expect 0-10. Hope it's not a sign of things to come. But their basketball program has dropped also in recent years.
The Hardwood
11:10
Good Morning, exciting time of year playoffs for football, and basketball is only 10 days away.  If you had to give us 3 teams in 4A, 5A and 6A to watch out for, who would they be
Mike White
11:13
I think there is some parity there. 4A tough to name a No. 1 team. But Knoch has to be up there. Then there's North Catholic, Quaker Valley, Avonworth, Belle Vernon. In 5A, it's pretty open I think. I couldn't pick a No. 1 team. I think you have to consider Montour (because of big kid), Baldwin, Moon, Penn Hills and Uniontown moves up from 4A. In 6A, clearly Upper St. Clair No. 1. But watch out for the flying Swans of Hempfield. Knocking on USC's door. After USC it's pretty open. Central Catholic still should be good. You also have Fox Chapel and look for New Castle to rebound.
LeboKid
11:13
Good morning, Mike. Recently, the PA House Commerce Committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution recommending that the PIAA establish separate playoffs for public and Catholic/private/charter schools.  Where does this resolution stand?  I imagine it's stuck in the Education Committee and going nowhere fast.  And does this resolution have any teeth anyway?  Thanks for letting us know if you have an update!
Mike White
11:14
Yes, I did a story on the resolution and the rep. behind it. But it's just a resolution. Not a bill. He's hoping to eventually get a bill to a vote, but I don't know if that will ever happen. Here's the story: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/highschool/2024/10/04/piaa-public-...
Ellwood Grad
11:14
Ellwood City's Elijah Palmer-McClane has averaged almost 150 rushing yards per game in 2024, and has over 4,000 yards in his high school career. Any idea of where he will go to college?
Mike White
11:15
Nothing yet. Probably small college.
Bashir
11:15
Any update on "Coach" and the Imani AAU team?
Mike White
11:15
Nothing yet. Might be WPIAL hearing soon.
Tw
11:15
What is going on at North Hills….heard that Pat Carey did not coach last week.  I hope his health is good.  Lots of stress coaching at that level.
Mike White
11:16
Best wishes to Pat Carey. As we reported in Friday's game story, Pat was in hospital for some testing. About all that is said right now.
40stripes-retired
11:17
Hi Mike.  Nice win for Mars over Montour on Friday night.  I remember another really close game, first round 2016 or 2017 on Halloween between Mars and Montour.  I had the honor of working that game.  Can't say I'm surprised, but maybe I am a little that Mars puled this one out.  Another topic - young Mr. Sieg committing to PSU as a safety - I've seen this young man play football and basketball.  He's excellent in both.  I haven't seen him play baseball but I understand he is pretty good there as well.  Don't know why, but I think he will play somewhere other than PSU and will play QB.  Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:20
Wait. He just committed to Penn State and you're saying he will play somewhere besides Penn State? You ask me my thoughts. My thought is you're off your rocker. Penn State was his leader for a while. He will go to Penn State. It's not all that surprising that he was recruited as a safety. Pitt and Wisconsin were two of his finalists and they recruited him as a DB. WVU other finalist and they said they maybe would like him somewhere on offense. Matt's a great, great high school player. Really good kid, too. I compared him to Derek Bochna, who was leading rusher in WPIAL history when he left Mapletown in late 1980s. From small school. Ended up at DB for Penn State and started as a freshman. Their stories are similar.
Jimbo
11:20
Hey Mike - Central Hoops Alum - what has happened to the program? No Hoopers in the Diocese anymore? My buddy insisted that I see the fall league game against Neighborhood Academy - never heard of them? he told me they had a d1 guard going to Yale which I couldn't believe until I learned his name was Court Wallace whose dad I played against and wow easily the best guard in the 412 I am a fan. and for a 1a school they were running great stuff. very impressed kid can flat out go!!! Are they your odds on favorite to win WPIAL?
Mike White
11:21
Courtney Wallace is good -- very good. Yes, one of best players in WPIAL. And with Imani moving up to 6A, Neighborhood Academy is most certainly the No. 1 team in 1A heading into season. As for Diocese, there aren't many players any more because there aren't many Catholic schools any more.
Pub Guy
11:22
Tasso Whipple, watched him run ...He is different ....why do running backs like him not get the pub ? Who you got PT vs PT ?  I think PT will win :)
Mike White
11:25
Not get the pub? Good lord, we have mentioned him and written about him a lot in stories we do on Penn-Trafford. Yes, he's good. And no we haven't done a gigantic feature on him, but you know we cover about 130 schools in WPIAL. And you think he hasn't gotten enough publicity ... well get in line.
Nate
11:25
If you were to look at all the sports in the wpial, what sport puts out the most high end talent? I am starting to think that we are putting out the same amount of baseball and basketball players.
Mike White
11:28
Depends on what you call "high end" talent. Although football doesn't produce anywhere near the number of big-time players that it used to, there are still 7-8-9 power 4 conference kids a year. It definitely is NOT basketball. Lots of good players, but not many Division I players. Girls basketball puts out more Division I players. I don't think it's fair to compare baseball to maybe basketball, but most baseball players might go Division I, but they aren't on full scholarship. But baseball has produced a handful of No. 1 draft picks in the past 6-7 years. I think football still produces the most high-end players. Of course, there are more football players on a team than any other sport.
Nate
11:28
Mike if you had the option to change the classifications in football in terms of eliminating classifications, changing enrollment requirements, etc.. what would you do? I would eliminate 6A and keep it at 5 classifications. I feel that would be the best thing.
Mike White
11:30
I would agree. Although what people fail to realize is having six classes has given some teams that haven't been good more of a chance to be competitive. Look at all the turnaround stories the past couple years in football. You wouldn't be seeing all of them with four classes.
Beaver County Fan
11:30
How about the consistency of the Beaver football program. Only three head coaches since 1966 (that's longer than the Steelers) and pretty consistent winner. Thoughts on the Bobcats winning back-to-back against Avonworth this Friday?
Mike White
11:33
Yep, kind of like the Steelers. It's been Pat Tarquinio, Jeff Beltz and Cort Rowse. Been a long time since Beaver has won a title (1982 - remember Shiloh Icenhour?), but they are usually very competitive. As for Beaver and Avonworth again. I was at the first game. Shame Beaver has to play Avonworth twice in a row. Beaver controlled the lines - offensive and defensive - in the first game. I like Beaver's playmakers also in Jackson, Cain and Mayo. I'll take Beaver but this one might be closer.
11:34
Speaking ob Beaver's Mayo. What if Upper St. Clair QB Ethan Hellman had a sister, say, named Suzie. If she married Brady Mayo, would she then be Suzie Hellman Mayo??? ...... wooo hoooo!!!! I'll be here all week. Try the veal.
Hoops@#$
11:34
I think basketball coaches really don't like football players unless they really need them. Coaches like to say play other sports until you don't come to winter and summer workouts due to football. What do basketball teams do when 1/2 the team wins this week and they got another week or more in football ?
Mike White
11:35
There is no doubt some basketball coaches don't particularly care for football players. They think football players don't come around enough in the offseason. But I do know some coaches who are absolutely fine with a few football players, which is how it should be. Especially at smaller schools. You need those football players.
X
11:35
Any news on Ubey Strader of Pine Richland? Will he play?  Is it his throwing shoulder?   I've seen Bethel Park 2x, Upper St. Clair 2x, Peters Twp 2x, and Pine Richland 3x.  I think any can beat the other on a given night. To me, a healthy Strader gives PR the edge.  The other qbs might get an open lane and beat you for 15 yards.  Strader has the potential to take it to the house from anywhere.  Except for Diluccia, his arm is as good as the other 2 qbs.
Mike White
11:36
From what I was told two weeks ago, Pine thought Strader would be good for Friday's game. Was NOT a broken collarbone.
Mr Ed
11:37
I know Jim Render has 406 career wins but some were out of state, correct? Curious if you think Bill Cherpak will stick around long enough to catch Render in all time WPIAL wins?
Mike White
11:39
I don't know exactly how many wins Jim Render had in Ohio. Wasn't exactly a lot. Billy GOAT has 320 wins. I would say he has only a couple more years at most. And then it's Florida sunshine calling.
What you talking about ?
11:39
Zavko said Penn Hills would destroy USC. Does he actually watch the games ?
Mike White
11:40
Oh, that Karlo Zovko (get his name, right). Hey, he got married two weekends ago, so his mind is other places these days.
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