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Mike White's high school sports chat: 2.6.18
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Mike White
10:58
Good morning, everyone. Basketball regular season winding down. The second "signing day" for football is tomorrow. Let's get started. Store now open.
Bummed out Nancy
10:58
Mike, love all high school sports and love your take on things.  I watched your segment with Sara on Big Game Hunting last week.  You covered 15 games but not one girls game was considered big.  You had West Allegheny at South Fayette 5A match up, Peters Township #2 in 6A vs North Catholic #1 4A, and North Allegheny #1 in state vs Spring Ford #5 in state.  Those 3 games combined had a 10 point differential.  The girls classification is great this year.  We need someone to bring some attention to the games, especially big ones.  Girls may not get equal time, but the occasional shout out would be nice.
Mike White
10:58
We will include girls when we get to the playoffs.
ScottieDog
10:59
Hi Mike, is the PIAA boys basketball bracket a true east/west bracket this year?? Also, which classifications do you feel have the best chance of getting a state title participant/winner from the WPIAL? Thanks for your continued coverage.
Mike White
11:01
No it is not in some classifications. Some teams from the west will still play teams in the east in some rounds. I don't like it, but not enough people on PIAA board want to change it, so you have to deal with it. It will be more in football next year also. Under new PIAA brackets for football, the WPIAL champ in 6A and 5A, if they make it to PIAA semifinals, will play District 12-11 winner. District 12 is Philly Catholic League. Wow. I have no idea for reasoning on that. So, this year, you would've seen Pine vs. St. Joseph's in semifinals.
Drew
11:01
Mike, any info on what happened at Kiski? Reading that the girls coach Nick Ionadi was fired and wasn’t even allowed to finish the season.
Mike White
11:01
No idea.
Tiger Den
11:01
As you like to say, the Mars/Moon game Friday night "was outta of this world".  Game was much closer than the final score of 58 - 43.  Was that a fluke or can Moon contend for the 5A WPIAL title?
Mike White
11:02
Of course Moon can contend. They are one of the top 5A teams. They had a close game vs. Mars earlier this year. Adam Kaufman does a great job. I still say Mars is the team to beat, but obviously not unbeatable. No size for Moon, but really like the Ryan twins.
Ironman
11:02
Your thoughts about the big game tonight with Butler at Central.
Mike White
11:04
My thought is I better get there early if I want a place to park. It will be packed in that small gym. I think it's a tossup game. Can Central's defense turn over Butler some? Hard to do when Ethan Morton is your point guard. Butler's shooting will be key, as will how other players besides Morton perform. Having a hard time picking this one.
The South Will Rise
11:05
What is your take on the Peters vs. North Allegheny girls game on Thursday.  I feel Peter's is battled test with multiple close games in a tough section.  North Allegheny is in a weak section averaging 27 point margin of victory against that section.  I believe size and speed should favor Peters as well.
Mike White
11:07
Nope. North Allegheny is still the best team. Doesn't mean it will win, but NA is best team in 6A.  And please spare me the notion that NA has played a weak schedule. That section isn't as strong as it used to be, but NA has played Altoona twice, Penn Hills, Norwin, good teams from outside the area, out-of-state team. They have played a good schedule.
Matdude
11:08
High school wrestling is way more popular in PA than high school basketball.  (Just look at attendance at state finals.)  Yet, it doesn't get nearly the same amount of press.  Why?
Mike White
11:12
Sorry, totally disagree. Yes, there are pockets in the area where wrestling is very popular.  It draws well in those areas. But consider: Only 84 schools have wrestling teams in WPIAL. Basketball has 131. Basketball has plenty of popularity still and still draws well for big games. Wrestling doesn't get the same amount of coverage that basketball gets, but we cover wrestling plenty.
Onion
11:12
Jordan Geist and Spencer Lee are off to great starts to their college careers and obviously have very bright futures. In your mind, which one has a better shot of reaching the Olympics one day?
Mike White
11:14
That's a tough call. Two of the best athletes in their sports ever in the WPIAL. Both have had success nationally and in world. I don't feel comfortable saying one has a better shot at Olympics than the other. WIth what Geist just did at the U. of Arizona in the shot, I'd say he now has a decent shot at Olympics. But I would think Lee does also. I know that might answer your question at who has better shot but I really can't answer that.
‘T’ from Green Tree
11:14
We enjoy going to the game of the week. We saw Rob Carmody play a couple times-great player! I realize he gets double teamed a lot, but they don’t even try to get him the ball at crucial times. He needs the ball for them to win! I don’t care how many times he shoots.
Mike White
11:16
I've seen Mars a few times this year. Once against Allderdice, the game was close and they went a few possessions without him touching it. However, I saw a close game against Moon and he touched it in crucial times and made key plays down stretch. I don't think you can say that they doesn't get the ball in crucial times all the time.
Dundee
11:16
Is the PIAA doing anything to attract new Referees ? It looks like there will be a shortage in the next few years. Can't blame it all on complaining, because they do get paid to do a job.
Mike White
11:18
Good luck in getting new officials. There has been a shortage for a number of years. People just don't want to do it, especially younger officials. But it's not just officials. I know schools find it hard to get people to run clock, take tickets, etc. Even coach. It's the way things are going in sports, I guess.
Pal
11:18
For seeding in the WPIAL hoop playoffs, are teams seeded based on Section finish /  record first, and then overall?  What's been the history?
Mike White
11:20
Lately overall has been the biggest factor. Now winning a section title does help, but doesn't guarantee you anything. And that's the way it should be. I mean, look at a few years ago in the biggest class. The top four seeds were all from the North section. Section record doesn't mean all that much, unless you come from a good section. And good for the WPIAL to do it this way. That being said, seeding the boys 6A bracket this year could be tough - one of the toughest ever.
Quiptown08
11:20
Got my first chance to see Carmody plan recently.  Great scorer!!  Made me think, who do you think are some of the best pure scorers you have seen in WPIAL high school hoops over your years?
Mike White
11:22
Drew Schifino, Penn Hills. Have to put T.J. McConnell up there. I mean, he was a great shooter in high school but scored 1,000 points in his senior year alone. Tom Pipkins, Valley. Kevin Price, Duquesne. Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette. He wasn't great shooter, but a scorer.
Ironman
11:22
Any hearings for transfers? Scuttlebutt on very good authority is out of state transfers are coming to PR. Stay tuned.
Mike White
11:23
Have not heard.
The Dice
11:23
In 6A East who do you think will win that section? and best chance of winning WPIAL?
Mike White
11:24
Fox Chapel looks like they are playing as well now as anyone in 6A. They might not win the section, though. A few early losses. I still think Penn Hills. They play Woodland Hills tonight. That will say a lot. It's nice to be hot going into playoffs, though, and Fox Chapel looks hot. Can't every forget about Latrobe, though. Guard play is so big in postseason and Fenton and Butler are two really good guards.
Panther
11:25
Do you see franklin regional making a deep run in 5a?
Mike White
11:25
Yes, they could. That wouldn't surprise me. But they aren't a lock.
11:29
To Kev, who asked about James Ellis of Westinghouse and whether he is Fab 5 material?? Without a doubt. I love the kid's potential. I don't think people realize the potential of this kid. Legit 6-11. So long. Athletic. Has some legit post moves. He signed with Allegany JC last week. Has some academic issues. But I know Duquesne is very interested. They might want him back in a few years. If he keeps working and progressing, I think he could play there. There is also still the possibility that he could go to Duquesne and sit out first year. TIme will tell. But he is definitely being considered for Fab 5. Also impressive what Eugene Wilson has done at Westinghouse in two seasons.
Ironman
11:29
I watched the Central at North Allegheny game. Curtis Aiken did not play. Any reason? NA may not make the playoffs and it makes you wonder what is going on up on the Wexford Flats. NA is not a very good team.
Mike White
11:31
I'm not sure, although I heard he might have a bad knee. He missed some time earlier. NA might miss the playoffs for the second time in three years.  That's a little eye opening. They won 20 games in five of the previous six seasons.
Biggest Fan
11:31
Hey sir, Im a guy in college down in Florida.  I have two questions.  One, who was a better backcourt at North Hills?  Cody Patton/Sean White, or Luke Chutko, Nick Smith?  Also may I have an autograph in the near future?  Thanks!
Mike White
11:36
Well Biggest Fan, everyone knows that the backcourt of Patton/White is one of the best in the history of the WPIAL. It's usually associated in the same breath as great duos like DeVenzio/Wuycik at Ambridge, Van Lier/Hill at Midland, Blair/Kennedy at Schenley, Clancy/Macklin at Fifth Ave. and others. And please, I'm not just saying that because the White kid used to live in my house. Don't accuse me of being partial. It's just fact. As for Smith and Chutko, they were terrific, but Smith was better at golf and Chutko should've been a dancer..
TB12
11:36
Do you think the injury to Ryan Shazier will effect the number of kids going out for high school football over the next few years? Team numbers are already shrinking.
Mike White
11:37
Ahhh, I don't think so. I think the whole concussion thing has affected youth football - way before Shazier. Youth football numbers in many places, from what I'm told, continue to shrink.
Kev
11:37
Mike, the kid james Ellis very great kid alot of potential, i say he is fab five material...would you agree? The kid has had several triple doubles 3 back to back
Mike White
11:37
I answered this above.
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