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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.28.23
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Mike White
10:55
It's a most wonderful time of the year ... and it's not even Christmas yet. State football semifinals this weekend -- and basketball starts Friday. Although I admit I'm ready for football to be over. Lord, it's a long season in an eastern state. Oh well, plenty to talk about. We'll even start a few minutes early. Let's go.
Jv guru
10:55
NA vs Harrisburg on Saturday at Altoona at 1pm & Peters vs Calico at 7pm. You heading to those games? What are you thoughts on each game? Harrisburg is loaded with D1 Talent
Mike White
10:58
I will not be at either of those games. Will be at The House and Beaver Falls Friday. Those 6A and 5A games certainly interesting, but I think both North Allegheny and Peters Township prevail. Look for previews on these games in P-G and on web site tomorrow. NA facing pretty good Harrisburg team. QB is Shawn Lee, dual-threat guy whose Dad was a DB at Penn State. Younger Shawn well over 1,000 throwing and has more than 1,000 rushing. Has a couple FBS offers. Peters Township playin a Cocalico team that runs flexbone and some old veer type of offense. Cocalico has four players with more than 700 yards rushing. Lost in semifinals last year.
Coach O
10:58
One win away for each to have Westinghouse-Southern Columbia rematch. Add in the post game nonsense by some of SoCo’s players after last year’s game and this should be a doozy, huh?
Mike White
11:00
Westinghouse has to get by Beaver Falls first. That won't be easy with the way Beaver Falls is playing. Southern Columbia is playing an always-good Dunmore team. But hard to bet against Southern Columbia. As for Westinghouse, I had said this year they couldn't be as good as last year because they lost so many players. But maybe they are. What a job Donta Green has done.
11:01
And from Did You Know Department? This is only third time a City League team has made state semis two consecutive years. Other times were both Perry - in 1989-90 and 2001-02.
Guest
11:01
Mike…love all your work but especially this time of year with football ending and hoops around the corner. Quite frankly, it’s the only reason I subscribe to the Post Gazette. 
With that in mind, I watched with great interest the Aliquippa football victory over McKeesport via the TV feed. Great players, very, very, well coached on both sides of the field. I’m not associated with the Aliquippa in any way nor do I know anyone with the program but wanted to say how impressed I am with their success. Especially so for a school playing up in classification(s) the way they do. Great story for many years now.
Mike White
11:02
Why, thank you for the kind words. When you really think about it, Aliquippa is probably one of the greatest stories in history of WPIAL sports. What they've done is amazing. And it goes back to when Don Yannessa was there. Mike Warfield has been tremendous.
HSFan
11:02
Ever seen a team like Beaver Falls turn the ball over the rate they have and still win a championship?
Mike White
11:03
Well, Beaver Falls had one turnover in WPIAL championship. Maybe it's just me but I don't think that's a real high rate.
Jv guru
11:04
6A player of the year Logan Kushner from NA . 5A has to be the Dilucia from Peters. 4A is Hayes from Aliquippa. 3A is Martin from Belle Vernon. 2A is Peel from Western Beaver or Barksdale from Steel Valley or Beauford from Beaver Falls. 1A is Stieg from Fort Cherry. Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:05
All good candidates But I think remains to be seen. Alualu kid has been very good for NA. Plays both sides of the ball. I think you wait until states play out.
Jv guru
11:05
How many more years until you retire?
Mike White
11:05
Why do you want it to happen now?
Monriverrat
11:05
Who's is Belle Vernon's biggest threat out east to repeat as state champs?
Mike White
11:06
I would say either Northwestern Lehigh or Wyomissing would be the biggest threats --- maybe because they are the teams in the east in the semifinals.
Johnny Football
11:06
Player of the year for candidates for each classification? Sieg is a lock for 1A. What about the others?
Mike White
11:07
See earlier post. Those are some candidates.
TM
11:07
Good Morning Mike--in all your years of covering WPIAL sports, is the Aliquippa WPIAL Championship Game streak the most impressive story you have witnessed?
Mike White
11:09
Like I said earlier, I do think it's one of the greatest stories in history of WPIAL sports. But there have been some other ridiculous ones, like Bethel Park boys swimming, Norwin girls volleyball, North Allegheny swimming, etc. You don't know as much about them because football is high profile sport.
GoWPIAL
11:09
How many WPIAL football teams make it to the finals? Over and under on how many win it all?
Mike White
11:09
Well we are guaranteed one local team because City League Westinghouse plays WPIAL Beaver Falls. I think at least four local teams make it and I wouldn't be surprised if all six make it.
Fortnite
11:09
Mike, how likely is it for a Pittsburgh area team to make it to the finals in each classification?
Mike White
11:09
Check above post.
Stang Gang
11:10
Alright Mr. White… I have all WPIAL advancing with the exception of BF losing to Westinghouse. What says you? Are the other 5 WPIAL schools  favorites in their matchups?
Mike White
11:10
As I said, I think at least four locals and it wouldn't surprise me if all six make it.
Stang Gang
11:10
Also missed you on the TV coverage this weekend. It’s a shame the 6A game couldn’t be on TV it was a classic.
Mike White
11:10
Well, it was streamed on NFHS network. Just had to buy a subscription.
Stang Gang
11:10
I think I really like Uniontown basketball this year. Could be really really good. They made some great strides in the state tournament last year.
Mike White
11:11
Uniontown has a lot of players back from last year's team that made it to the state semifinals before losing to Lincoln Park. Uniontown should be good. We have them No. 2 ranked in 4A.
Tyler Berkman
11:11
Only 2 Allderdice players listed on your City League watch list! What's next, a write up on Carricks prestigious basketball program??? Give me a break. There should be 4 of them mentioned. I'm sick of this "everyone gets a trophy" culture.
Mike White
11:13
Ahhh, the Allderdice man is back again with his drivel. Allderdice is very good. Definitely the team to beat. But you are right. I'm stupid. Allderdice's starting five should be ranked the top five players in THE STATE. How stupid of me not to realize that. Glad you set me straight.
4A basketball
11:13
Any thoughts on Knoch sophomores, Jackson Bauman (6'2), Teegan Finucan (6'2), Derek Lang (6'7) and Zane Pacek (7')
Mike White
11:15
I know a few of them started as freshmen last year and Pacek is a 7-foot sophomore. Wow. I think I've seen Pacek is a baseball pitcher also? Is that right? Can you imagine a 7-foot pitcher? Knoch is certainly a team to watch.
Jake
11:15
I’m able to find the 5 and 6a all conference teams, but I’m not able to find the other conferences and the players that made 1st, 2nd, and HM teams. Do you have a way for me to find those ?
Mike White
11:16
We will run all conference teams once the state championships are over. We don't have them all yet.
BasketballFan
11:17
Who’s your sleeper in 5A boys basketball?
Mike White
11:17
I don't think people realize how good Moon is. Also, it was tough to rank only 5 in 5A. Fox Chapel, Mars, Kiski Area are all teams that could make some noise.
Wpial
11:18
Mike who’s better peters township or north Allegheny at football
Mike White
11:18
Would be a good game. I'd take North Allegheny.
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