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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.16.25
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Mike White
10:58
Well, it is freezing out. So that means it's good to sit inside and have some hot high school sports chat. Welcome. Let's go.
HsFan
10:58
Watched Woody/NC last night. Tough battle between both teams. Woody will make noise this year. NC’s defense continues to carry the way as their offense comes along.
Mike White
11:01
New Castle really defends. I saw up close Friday night. Kai Cox is a problem defensively because of his strength and athletic ability. Remember, this is probably a Division I DB in football. And Marino Graham defends well, and great for a freshman. How many high school kids can you remember who were the starting quarterback as a freshman and the starting point guard as a freshman? Not many. Yes, Woody will make noise this year. They have some talent and some size. Will be interesting to see how long Scoop Smith plays because he says he is going to enroll at Miami (Ohio) in late January for football.
HomeDog
11:01
Do you like the trend of more schools playing HS Basketball Boy / Girl Doubleheaders?
Mike White
11:06
Maybe I'm a traditionalist but I like when boys have their own night and girls have their own night. But I don't have a big problem with it. I know some girls feel they should have some Friday night home games, too. And I understand that. I agree. What happens at some places, though, is they use one gym and play JV and varsity boys and girls games. That's a long day. You might have a JV boys game at 3:30, JV girls at 5, Varsity girls at 6:30 and Varsity boys at 8. But if you want to see your school's girls and boys team play, a boy-girl doubleheader is nice.
HomeDog
11:06
HS Gym that plays best "timeout" music...I like Armstrong High. Good mix of 80's / 90/s
Mike White
11:06
Fifth Avenue High School. Ooops. That's not open.
6A guy
11:06
mike, who are the biggest surprises in 6A and who are the teams who you think are struggling?
Mike White
11:09
I don't get into naming teams who I would classify as "struggling." It's high schools. If we want to name the positive or surprises, that's fine. But in high school, we don't need to give "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" to teams. If you're talking 6A boys, I don't know if there are any big surprises. I said before the season that I believe 6A has nice depth of pretty decent teams this year. I don't think anyone in 6A is good enough to beat those eastern Pa teams for a state title. But for our area, there is nice depth of pretty decent teams in 6A boys. On the other hand, I think 6A girls is down, as far as depth of quality teams.
6 Classes-Girls Hoops
11:10
I understand the amount of teams makes 6 classes a good thought...However, the amount of blowouts in girls hoops is startling. some of these scores are just crazy. Wish the PIAA would re-evaluate the 6 classes in girls hoops and return to 4. Blowouts would remain, but at least the playoffs would be more competitive.
Mike White
11:12
Funny you bring this up. Because the blowouts so far have caught my eye. You're thinking like me (that might be scary for you). Listen to this: Last Thursday there were 36 WPIAL section games. The average margin of victory was 27.8. Wow!! In exactly one third of the games (12), the losing team failed to score 20 points. That's crazy. The average number of points scored by losing teams in section games was 27.4. So yes, the blowouts are alarming. But it's been going this way for a few years now.
independents
11:12
I have heard Brownsville and Uniontown are returning to the WPIAL. Anything on Baldwin, Albert Gallatin or Connellsville?
Mike White
11:13
Yes, some ADs/coaches from schools who had independent football teams told me late in the season that they would maybe like to come back to WPIAL. However, some want to know what the WPIAL is going to do as far as conference set up before making a final decision. So, stay tuned.
5A Conferences
11:13
Do you think the WPIAL will split up the South Hills conference-Allegheny 6? Adding Thomas Jefferson/West A to an already stacked conference with Peters, USC, Moon, Bethel and co would be extremely difficult
Mike White
11:15
Good question. Honestly, I don't know if I want to predict anything the WPIAL will do any longer. When they made football conferences two years ago, they talked about some competitive balance and that geography might have to be thrown out the window in some cases. Putting TJ and West Allegheny in that conference will make it ridiculous, compared to others.
4A Hoops
11:16
Early on- Looking like it might be a race to catch North Catholic... can anyone compete with them?
Mike White
11:19
You're talking WPIAL 4A boys, right? North Catholic definitely is the team to beat and the No. 1 team. Terrific senior guard tandem in Rottmann and Fredericks. The freshman Brandon Pickett already is good, too. Enjoyable to watch them. Play fast and play hard. They are the class of 4A undobutedly, but not unbeatable. They have an off day shooting and they will be challenged.
Mr Ed
11:19
Speaking of WPIAL only, is there anyone in 6A you think can seriously  challenge New Castle for championship?
Mike White
11:20
Yes. New Castle is very good. But they will be challenged. Ask Ralph Blundo. He will say the same thing. They will have some challenging games in section also.
TJ fAN
11:20
TJ 5-0, and the ball is round....wow - new experience
Mike White
11:21
You know, TJ was a two-point loss to Moon away from going to the WPIAL 5A championship just two years ago. Semifinals again a few years before that. This isn't Dom DeCicco's first bowl game.
Ballerz
11:22
If I was new to the area and had 1 night to go watch a boys basketball game, what team would you tell me to go see and why?
Mike White
11:24
Could be a number of them. First, I would think you would want to see a team that has some talent and plays uptempo. With some talent. These are in no particular order, but a few would be New Castle, Chartiers Valley, North Catholic, Mt. Lebanon, Lincoln Park, South Allegheny, Upper St. Clair. Those are just off the top of my head.
Ryan
11:24
Who wins tonight’s Basketball game Mars or Highlands Go Mars 🏀🏀
Mike White
11:24
I'll take Mars.
J D
11:25
Mike, do you think the rules for high schools to recruit players from other school districts should be more strict or keep as is?
Mike White
11:26
It's a mess. Has been for a while. Tough to prove recruiting, though. And some schools don't want to be involved. It would help some, though, if maybe governing bodies looked into it more. Just sayin'.
Nick
11:26
who do u think wins the other section in 6A usc or central?
Mike White
11:28
Well Central just beat USC. Don't forget about Mt. Lebanon also. I'd say those are definitely the top three teams. I don't know who I'd pick yet. I haven't seen Central yet. Wouldn't be surprised if there was a two-way tie for that section title. Or maybe even three-way tie?????
NC Fan
11:28
What are ur early thoughts of New Castle this year? Canes seem to be the team to beat in 6A.
Mike White
11:28
Talked about New Castle earlier. Definitely the team to beat in 6A.
11:29
That's why we had New Castle No. 1 at the beginning of the season. But believe me, there are enough pretty good teams in 6A that they will get challenged.
HS hoops fan
11:29
Do you see any girls team in 5A giving South Fayette a run for their money? SF seems to be rolling over everyone
Mike White
11:32
I don't see any team in any class in the WPIAL staying with South Fayette girls. They are that good. They have won six games by an average of 37 points. A few wins against 6A teams. They play a couple of out-of-state teams. I don't know about that competition. But I just did our Varsity Xtra Podcast with Keith Barnes. Going to go out on a limb and say South Fayette runs the table this year. Five girls have either signed with Division I schools already or have an offer from a Division I school. Only 5 WPIAL girls teams have won a state championship with a perfect record. I say South Fayette will be No. 6.
11:33
Something on an upcoming column. I have been doing an occasional series on top 10s from the 2000s. In football, top 10 players, top 10 coaches, top 10 teams since 2000. I'll be coming out with top 10 WPIAL-City basketball players since 2000. Good lord, is it tough to pick 10. I still don't have it finalized and have changed 4-10 around 40 times.
NC Fan
11:33
Early thoughts on New Castle this year, Canes have the offensive fire power & can also defend very well, in ur opinion is NC the team to beat in 6A this year?
Mike White
11:34
Talked about them earlier.
Nick
11:34
Who do u have in the other section in 6A usc central? Or u think someone else?
Mike White
11:34
Talked about that above.
WPIAL Fan
11:34
Hi Mike, was wondering who are ur top boys basketball coaches from 2010-2025 (Present) considering that u have seen it all, just wanted to hear ur opinions
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