JotCast | Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.11.18

Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.11.18

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Mike White

11:11

Sorry for the delay. Caught in a little traffic on way to Pittsburgh Coaches Corner Luncheon. Put on annually by Dan McCann honoring WPIAL and City League championship coaches. So this chat is from the road this week - in my car.

Brad Everetts Beard

11:11

My way to early, no research WPIAL Champs for 2019: Central Catholic, Peters Twp, TJ, North Catholic. Thoughts?

Mike White

11:12

Good lord, Every week someone wants to know winners for NEXT SEASON!!! Yes Central will be No. 1 probably entering season. Gateway still has a lot back. TJ loaded. Quips are always Quips. Washington good. Haven't thought about 1A.

John Steigerwald

11:12

I know its early, but what your biggest takeaway (good or bad) from the opening weekend of high school hoops?

Mike White

11:13

By biggest takeaway is I'm ticked I didn't get to see any games. Was at state football.

11:14

But the guys and girls who were supposed to be good are off to great starts. In boys, watch out for Penn-Trafford and Fox Chapel. Makenna Marissa is also off to a big start.

Harold P

11:14

What do you think of West Mifflin opening the football coach job? Who do you think will fill it? Fleming from Central?

Mike White

11:15

I have no idea if Dave Fleming even interested. Could it be Rod Steele? No inside info. Just throwing that out. Anyway, Ray Braszo should still be the coach.

matt

11:15

if you had to pick a winner between Penn hills and Aliquippa, who would you pick? I know PH is 2 classifications higher, but the Quips do have size on the lines and just as many play makers. I think it would be a great game.

Mike White

11:15

Definitely would be great game. I'd go Penn HIlls probably.

hoopster

11:15

If the first week of the season is any indication it looks like 6A boys basketball is wide open.

Mike White

11:16

Agree. No. 1 Butler got a tough game from Peters. Pine-Richland lost. I knew Penn-Trafford was a sleeper. They beat NA. Fox Chapel is one to watch also. Beat Pine-Richland. P-T is big and has good guards. Jim Rocco's son at point guard. Fox Chapel has some talent that was injured last year.

Jimmy

11:17

Sleeper team for the basketball season?

Mike White

11:17

I just talked about a few above. But I don't think they're sleepers any more after what Penn-Trafford and Fox Chapel did.

Jimmy

11:17

What is wrong with these wpial refs I just don’t get it I was at Geneva this weekend and they would call the most softest touch’s, but when kids got pretty much tackeled they wouldn’t call anything why can’t they just let the kids play a little it’s just annoying to sit through.

Mike White

11:18

Well Jimmy, I wasn't there. Early in the season, games are generally called tighter. Any points of emphasis, refs usually go at it hard early in season.

Al Julius

11:18

True that Rod Steele is going to Woodland Hills ?

Mike White

11:19

Ahhhhh the Woodland Hills job isn't open as far as I know. So that would mean he is NOT going to Woodland Hills.

matt

11:19

in your opinion, who would win if PH played Aliquippa? I know PH is 2 classifications higher, but Quips have size on the lines and just as many play makers. I think it would be a great game.

Mike White

11:19

Just answered that a little earlier. Would be a really good game. If you made me pick, I'd go with Penn Hills.

Rams Supporter

11:20

Looking at some of the scores from the opening weekend Tournaments in girls basketball the scoring is ridiculous. I was curious as how you look on a team and or coach that will leave its starters in to put up 70 to 80 points on a vastly inferior team? Looks like it is strictly about statistics and points per game to me.

Mike White

11:22

Every year there are some girls teams that sometimes struggle to get to 20 points. It's nothing new. They will get blown out every game. It's not a matter of points scored. It's how you do it. Are you still pressing up 40 on a bad team? Are your starters still in fourth quarter when you're up 40? Yes, some coaches don't have a clue about not destroying people. But just because you score 70 doesn't mean you're running it up.

ofbkelly

11:22

As a season ticket holder at New Castle, I was worried about this season. But after watching the tipoff, I don't think there's any reason why they can't compete for the WPIAL again. Ralph sure gets the most out of his kids. I know you haven't seen them yet but any thoughts?

Mike White

11:23

What a surprise. New Castle is good again even though they lost a lot of players. Ralph's among the best in the business for a number of reasons. They will challenge again for WPIAL title even though they lost seven starters. It's just what New Castle does.

guest

11:23

Who are some top D1 prospects coming up in boys high school basketball?

Mike White

11:25

Reed Fenton of Latrobe is committed to Dartmouth. Jackson Blaufeld of Allderdice to Dartmouth. Junior Ethan Morton of Butler has a bunch of big-time offers. Isiah Warfield of Sewickley has D-1 offers. Some have Donovan Johnson of Moon in top 150 juniors. Those are a few who come to mind right away.

Mercy

11:25

I think its a joke that 4 possibly 5 teams out of 6 can make the WPIAL playoffs from one section. Thoughts?

Mike White

11:26

Hey that's the way it is in six classes. Not many teams in 6A. You want to have at least a little tournament, so you have to take teams. I have no problem. It's the effect of six classes. Everything watered down. But get used to it. PIAA isn't going to go back on six classes.

Mercy

11:26

BV, Uniontown, SP, Ringgold, Waynesburg and EF.

Mike White

11:26

What about them?

11:27

5A girls is pretty good again. For boys, Alvis Rogers now the coach. Played at Wake Forest during Jordan days. He knows a thing or two. Haven't seen them yet. Let's wait and see. But I see Gateway has another Kromka. Geez. What is that the 34th Kromka or something?

Brian Batko

11:28

Do you wanna pitch in to get a gift card to Applebee's for Brad Everett? Let me know

Mike White

11:28

Brad would rather something in West Mifflin. So no.

The County

11:28

Any must see holiday tournaments in the area?

Mike White

11:30

Honestly I haven't even looked at holiday tournaments yet. But there are two games in the next week that are really interesting and worth going to see. Friday Erie McDowell plays at Butler. McDowell has 6-6 Will Jeffress, rated among the top 20 sophomores in the country. Butler has Ethan Morton. Then Monday, Latrobe plays at Allderdice. Really good matchup. Reed Fenton and Bryce Butler vs. Jackson Blaufeld and Bobby Clifford. Two of the best 6A teams in Western Pa.

Jon G.

11:30

Assuming Ethan Morton stays next year and doesn’t re-classify or go the prep route, where do you see his place in WPIAL history? To have a local kid I’m the top-50 prospects is pretty special in these parts

Mike White

11:31

Ethan ain't going to no prep school. Why should he? Look at all the offers he has. Why would he need prep school? Maybe he wants to play with the kids he grew up with and leave a legacy in his community, his school.

The High

11:33

who is the most tenured coach in Boys Basketball currently?

Mike White

11:33

I believe Don Williams of Carmichaels.

11:35

By the way, Don Williams is. His first year was 1975.

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