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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.16.21
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Mike White
11:02
Ten WPIAL football semifinal games Friday. One championship Friday. Two City teams in PIAA playoffs Saturday. Volleyball and soccer semis tonight. Heck, basketball practice officially starts Friday. Great time of year for high schools, so let's talk.
WPIAL Pigskin
11:02
Mike, normally really like the high school sports coverage but was disappointed to not see an article/preview this morning about the PIAA volleyball and soccer Semifinals that are going on tonight.  The WPIAL has 8 of 8 Western Finalists in Boys' Soccer, 7 of 8 in Girls' Soccer, and 6 of 8 in Girls' VB.  That in itself is pretty remarkable!  Do you have anyone covering those games tonight?  I get the PG sports staff has been chopped apart but its possible we could have 12 WPIAL teams headed to Hershey/Chambersburg this weekend!
Mike White
11:04
We have had many, many soccer stories in our Varsity Xtra section all year. Also volleyball. We've had roundups during regular season. Run leading goal scorers. Covered all the WPIAL finals. Had something on every PIAA quarterfinal game from Saturday. Sorry that's not enough and we didn't preview the semifinal games tonight. We will preview state championships in Thursday Varsity Xtra. And we will have something on every semifinal game tonight.
WPIAL Pigskin
11:04
Also think that its pretty shortsighted for the PIAA to only offer online tickets for the PIAA playoffs in all sports.  First of all, the 8 dollar ticket now has about $1.50 extra in surcharges.  Plus, not all HS students have easy access to a credit card.  Don't know why they can't have the online ticketing along with the option for people to pay cash at the gate the "traditional way".  I know parents will always buy tickets, but this could keep some general people away.  Maybe I'm just old school but don't like the concept of mandatory service fees.  Any thoughts on this?
Mike White
11:05
Oh well. Can't say I disagree with you, but it's the way of the world today. Many places are doing on line ticketing.
Wolverine
11:06
Hearing that Woodland Hills will be moving down in football for the next cycle.  Some people have said 4A, some have said 3A.  Do you know what class the Wolverines will be playing in next cycle for football?
Mike White
11:07
Woodland Hills is still checking numbers. Many schools I have heard miscalculated enrollment numbers because they counted vo-tech students wrong way. I know Woodland Hills will be either 4 or 3. We have to wait and see. All numbers officially come out in early December.
WPiAL 7 is Legit
11:07
Before you know it, December 10th will be here and the basketball will be in the air again!  Do you know of any interesting early season non-section or tip off tournament match-ups that would be good to see the first weekend?
Mike White
11:08
Honestly, I have no idea of the schedule the first weekend. There is still this thing called football that I still have to concentrate on first. Although it sure was nice when state football playoffs were done by Thanksgiving weekend last year.
Football Guy
11:08
Heard that Lebo has some injuries? Specifically their QB and a linemen. QB didn’t play in second half against NA. Have you heard anything about them ?
Mike White
11:10
Bob Palko said Joe Daniels is fine and will be playing QB this week. As for Central Catholic LB Anthony Speca, the sophomore with a number of major-college offers, he is questionable this week with a shoulder injury. Didn't play last week.
Valley Vike
11:10
Tom Pipkins...I'm amazed he still isn't in the WPIAL Hall of Fame.  While he didn't make the NBA, he still had a pretty decent college career at Duquesne.  Any idea why he hasn't gotten the call yet?  Not to knock other basketball players who made it, but he was definitely ranked above some of them in my book!
Mike White
11:11
Honestly, I had no idea he wasn't in. If he's not, that is pretty ridiculous.
D9Dave
11:11
Is the open tournament format that was used for the basketball playoffs last year because of Covid out for this upcoming season?  Is there a uniform mask policy with respect to basketball or is it still up to each individual school? Also, your thoughts on a shot clock in PA for high school basketball.
Mike White
11:14
In order of your questions, 1: Nope. Open tournament is gone. Sections with seven or less teams get four to the playoffs. Section with eight or more get five. 2. No, there is no uniform mask policy. There wasn't last year, either. 3. Would love shot clock, so would almost everyone. Look for a story later this week on a lunch last week that gathered some of the top basketball coaches to discuss hoops issues. They all want shot clock. National federation has allowed each state to decide on a shot clock for 2022-23 season. So it will be up to PIAA to decide. It would be 35 second clock.
Bobby Beaver
11:14
i have a feeling CC will beat Lebo this time around. I also wish this game was at Heinz. It’s now when I don’t see the need for 6 classes. Should’ve tried 5 first.
Mike White
11:15
I think Lebo-Central will be very close. Won't be 35-14 like last time. No use complaining about six classes. It's here to stay. And it wasn't the WPIAL's idea. It was the PIAA.
Randy
11:15
Seems like WPIAL has a chance to win all 8 soccer state championships. That is impressive.
Mike White
11:16
Well, the WPIAL could have a team in all eight championships. I think they're guaranteed seven. Yes, that is impressive.
Bingo
11:16
would like to see Lebo and Belle Vernon beat the perennial powers PCC and Tj however It’s difficult to beat a team twice in one season. Thoughts? BV  would pack Heinz
Mike White
11:17
I think the beating a team twice in one season might be a little overrated. We'll see.
Lebo Guy
11:17
What’s your score prediction for the 6A final this Saturday?
Mike White
11:18
Close game. I'll take Lebo 28-21. Or 21-14.
WPIAL FAN
11:18
What does the Westinghouse game look like? Do they compete or maybe even have a play in the fourth to win?
Mike White
11:20
Well, the winless Detroit Lions almost beat the Steelers. I think Westinghouse's chances of beating the Farrell Steelers are even less. Farrell is good. Really good. Average over 50 points a game. Skill positions superb. It will take a great effort by Westinghouse to be in game. Have to play close to perfect. But no matter what happens, Donta Green has done tremendous job bringing that program back up. Terrific season for the 'House.
WPIAL FAN
11:20
I don’t think people realize the talent gap from 6a down to the lower classes. Even some of the bottom teams in 6a would beat most 5a teams with the exception of maybe the top 5 5a teams.
Mike White
11:24
Hold on. Yes, there is a big gap sometimes. But please. You really think Baldwin, Hempfield and Norwin would be rolling in Class 5A? C'mon, man. Let's use Baldwin as an example. Baldwin has been 6A this year and last year. Baldwin's records in four previous years in Class 5A were 5-6, 4-6, 1-8, 207. Enough said.
demosthenes98
11:24
You mentioned a couple of weeks back that it's much less common for a boys' basketball coach in the WPIAL to double as an athletic director than it is for a football coach to do so.  Do you have any idea why that is?
Mike White
11:25
Just the way it is. Been that way for a long time. How many college football coaches have you seen go into an AD job after they quit coaching? Hardly ever see it with basketball coaches.
demosthenes98
11:25
Why does the Tri-County South Conference lay a collective egg in the WPIAL football playoffs every year?
Mike White
11:26
Maybe because those teams usually aren't all that good. At last not compared to the rest of WPIAL Class 1A.
Bill
11:26
Any way Campos returns next year? Or is that all but a done deal at Pine
Mike White
11:27
Stay tuned. But I'd say very good chance job will be opened. But I said that in the summer, if the school board elections went a certain way. And they did.
pup
11:27
Better HS player from Butler: Ethan Morton or Devin Carney
Mike White
11:28
Not even going there. Any chance you're from the Carney family?
pup
11:28
2nd favorite place to watch a HS hoop game in the WPIAL?
Mike White
11:28
Ahhh, what's my first?
Ron Juane
11:28
Warriors gonna take down Rams Mikey!  Penn Hills stuns Moon.  What say you?
Mike White
11:29
I picked Penn-Trafford to win it. I'll stick with that. Penn Hills over Moon wouldn't be a stunner. Yes, Moon is No. 1 seed, but many have said all along 5A is the best class as far as depth of quality teams - and there are a handful of teams good enough to win it.
WPIAL FAN
11:29
It would be awesome to see a meaningful city league wpial game in the state playoffs.
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