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Mike White's high school sports chat: 2.13.18
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Mike White
10:59
Good morning, everyone. Little bit of eventful week with the Clairton-Monessen thing. Playoff pairings for WPIAL announced tonight. City League semifinals tonight. Store is now open for business. Fire away.
Sportsmanship
11:00
Why shouldn't Clairton be banned from the playoffs?  To borrow an NCAA term, there is clearly a lack of institutional control.  Just look at what happened recently with their football coach (getting suspended).  To me, they should get a playoff ban this time and any other violations in the next decade means they are out of the WPIAL
Mike White
11:04
There are other people who feel the same as you and I can tell you WPIAL board of directors discussed putting Clairton and Monessen both out of the playoffs. But here's the thing. I think you almost have to separate the players fight from the fans. Two players started fighting. Some players came off the benches. If that's all that would've occurred, there would've been ejections and players sitting the next game. But the fans came on the court and some fought. The feeling was that if just the players fought, they wouldn't be banned from playoffs. Why ban the teams because of stupidity from some fans. I think WPIAL got it right with not banning teams from playoffs. But my belief is that neither Clairton or Monessen should be permitted to have any fans (not even parents) through the quarterfinals and maybe semifinals. WPIAL is letting them have 30 tickets through the semifinals. Championship will be open. Just my opinion.
The South Will Rise
11:04
Mike, I have been expounding on the strengths of the Peters Girls Basketball Team lately, and how they would beat North Allegheny.  I was wrong, you were right.  North Allegheny defends the entire court and spreads you out on offense.  That girl that was going to play softball at Pitt, she shoots real well but she makes passes like no girl I have seen.  That whole NA team is strong, even their bench is strong. I think if Peters gets another crack at them, the results may be different.  I had to write you to admit my mistake this time around.
Mike White
11:05
It takes a man to admit he was wrong. Ha ha. Yes, NA is good - and if they meet again NA still wins.
Gerald
11:05
Who are your coaches of the year for each classification in boys and girls basketball?
Mike White
11:05
Way too early. Playoffs matter.
Hoops Expert
11:05
Can you justify how all of a sudden Chartiers Houston is getting a bye in 2A boys, when they weren’t even in the Top 5 last week? The Top 4 was the same all year, yet Serra is now a 5? Can you explain? Do their schedules compare?
Mike White
11:07
Chartiers-Houston is a section champ. They have had some success. I think Serra might be better team but Char-Houston won a section. I think that's the reason for the No. 4. I don't think it's the biggest deal because Class A is not very good after the top 5 or so. In fact, bottom of it is bad. Plus, 4 and 5 meet in the quarterfinals. Doesn't matter much.
The Dice
11:07
If Mars were in 6A this year, how do you think they'd fair in the tough northern section?
Mike White
11:08
I think Mars would still be very good. But they might have one or maybe two more losses. But don't kid yourself. Mars played a very good schedule out of the section.
The Dice
11:08
Why doesn't the WPIAL have the higher seed host first round games?
Mike White
11:09
Because that's not what they do. It has been talked about in past years, but league hasn't pulled the trigger on it. I don't think it would be a bad thing, but I don't know if it's needed.
Pal
11:09
Section reconfiguration.....Who do you think is the 8th team in the North Section in 6A girls next year?
Mike White
11:09
Haven't really thought about it.
Pal
11:10
Continued, Section reconfiguration....These 7 teams have to be in the north next year, 6A girls...SV, NA, NH, Shaler, FC, Butler and PR...  Who is 8th in your opinion...Peters? Baldwin? Connellsville?
Mike White
11:11
Section alignments for hoops come out Tuesday.
BigMac
11:11
Mike, multiple media outlets have Canon Mac as an 8... They're the only team with 20 wins and certainly deserve a pass for the Baldwin defeat... I understand where others may believe that they lost the bye opportunity, but all the way to an 8? As for the strength of schedule, this is high school, they can't really control that... I like them at no less than 6 playing Latrobe...
Mike White
11:13
Ahhh, sorry but they can control strength of schedule. Let's be honest. Out of section schedule was not good. That doesn't help. Other teams played a much stronger non-section schedule. Losing to Baldwin didn't help. If they are an 8, I have no problem with it. You can make points in Canon-Mac's favor, but you can also make points for the 7 teams ranked ahead of them.
Guest
11:13
Your predictions for girls and boys Wpial champs
Mike White
11:14
They'll be in paper tomorrow.
Sleepy
11:14
Mike, it's obvious that 6A is loaded...  Can you give me a darkhorse? The two teams that arrive in the finals will certainly deserve it...  I see you have Pine at the 4 and Fox at the 5... That's a heck of a 2nd round match-up!
Mike White
11:16
Foxes were playing as well as anyone in 6A. I know WPIAL doesn't look at all at last night's games, but Central beating Fox Chapel says something. It's what I've been saying all along this season. There are 8 or 9 teams in 6A where it wouldn't surprise me if any one of them made the championship, and it wouldn't surprise me if they lost in the quarterfinals. And that includes the top four seeds.
6A field this year is the result of a lack of a really, really good team, parity ... but also the fact that there are a number of pretty good teams.
Mikey
11:17
Possible Butler/Latrobe in Round 1... Holy Crap! What say you?
Mike White
11:18
Yes, that's what I have. Really good game. You'll see some really good guards -- Ethan Morton, Reed Fenton, Bryce Butler. Should be one of the top first-round games.
guyin412
11:18
What does the WPIAL committee use to determine seeding in the playoffs? section/overall record? strength of schedule/section?
Mike White
11:18
All of the above.
WPIAL Hoops Guy
11:18
Mike, Who do you feel would be the 1 seed on the boys' side that would have the "best" chance of winning gold at the Pete.  Obviously, I know they all would have a decent chance, but is there 1 teams head and shoulders above the others in their classification?
Mike White
11:19
Probably Quaker Valley, but no way they are head and shoulders above everyone else. Lincoln Park would be second choice.
WPIAL Hoops Guy
11:19
I know the WPIAL Hoops committee met to make new sections yesterday for the '18-'19 and '19-'20 seasons.  Do you think there is any chance the "spread the wealth" to try and eliminate power sections?  Blackhawk, the 6th place team in Class 4A, Section 2, beat South Fayette (at SF), the 2nd place team in their section.  They also beat Seneca Valley.  Unfortunately, as the sections stand now they have little chance to make the playoffs.
Mike White
11:20
Can't predict what WPIAL will do, but they do try to use geography a lot. But I understand what you're saying.
Concerned Citizen
11:21
What is to prevent a Monessen or Clairton fan to go to their opponent's school to purchase a playoff ticket for a game?  If someone really wants to get to the game they can still do it.
Mike White
11:21
Nothing. But I don't think I'd show up at the ticket window at other school with Clairton or Monessen gear on.
11:22
My idea was only students from opposing school could buy tickets. They could buy them for their own adults, but a student from that school would still have to purchase them.
Jacob rich
11:22
Mike. Where do you see pine Richland and Butler in the playoff seeding tonight ?
Mike White
11:22
Pine-Richland 4 and Butler 7, playing Latrobe.
RGW
11:23
Wondering which Seneca Valley team is going to show up in the playoffs. The  one that barely beat Shaler or the one that went into Pine and Butler and won.  I still expect Pine to come out on top in 6A but it looks pretty wide open.
Mike White
11:24
Seneca Valley is another one of those teams playing extremely well entering the playoffs. They are healthy now. Watch our for Victor Giannotta "Dry Eye In The House" in the playoffs. I think they are a sleeper.
HSBballFan
11:24
I wonder if the WPIAL should do more to address game day logistics such as not having fans seated behind team benches. Thoughts?
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