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Mike White's high school sports chat: 01.17.23
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Mike White
11:00
How goes it, everyone? Well, tonight is pretty much midpoint of section play in WPIAL basketball. Lots of things we can talk about, so let's open the store.
WPIAL Football Guy
11:00
Hey Mike, Rumor is that PCC is down to two finalist for their coaching job and final interviews are this week. Steve Bezila (current OC) and Ryan Lehmeier (SV OC) are rumored final two. Who do you think gets the nod?
Mike White
11:02
Yes, those are two names I've heard also. I'm not the AD or on the selection committee. So you'll get no prediction from me. It seems they are similar. Neither has been a head coach. But Bezila is a Central guy. That might mean something.
ShootTheJPlayTheD
11:03
There are some big time 3A games tonight between Neshannock and Mohawk & SSA and Deer Lakes. Any thoughts on those matchups?
Mike White
11:03
I think Rivers has Neshannock and Shady Side favorites. So do I.
First love hoops
11:04
What’s the deal with First Love and their owner?  Why’d they contest Ama Sow transferring to Montour when he lives there?
Mike White
11:06
First Love? What's the deal with them in a lot of things. I could go on and on. Bottom line is Sow is now eligible and playing again at Montour. So let's just leave it at that.
JW
11:08
Are Evan Berger and Jack Dunbar the 2 best juniors in their section? Hard to find 2 kids who are bigger mismatches in my opinion in their section
Mike White
11:09
Well, the two are the leading scorers in the section. Berger averages 26 and Dunbar 17. Just based on that it wouldn't be going out on a limb saying they are the two best juniors in the section.
TM
11:09
Over the weekend (Sunday) I was at a youth swim meet at a local high school. I was surprised to see that high school girl's varsity hoops team practicing. WPIAL used to allow varsity sports to practice/play 6 days a week. Is that still the case? Or have the rules changed?
Mike White
11:11
Nope. PIAA rules say you can go six days a week - and that includes games. Must have one day off. A number of boys and girls teams practice on Sundays. Think of it if you are a boys team and play a game Friday night. A practice early Saturday morning might not be the most beneficial. Many boys coaches feel give the team off Saturday and bring them in Sunday. Girls teams like to practice on a Sunday because there is usually a game Monday and good to practice a day before a game.
WPIAL Lifer
11:12
If you had to choose one, give me your top backcourt duo in the region right now: Cummings/Thomas from LP; DeShields/Gallagher from LH; Davis/Sleva from Char-Valley; other?
Mike White
11:14
Ahhhh, I'll go with the first two sets. They are definitely ahead. It's hard to choose between Cummings and Thomas and DeShields/Gallagher. I guess I'd take DeShields/Gallagher because at least they have a championship won together. If Lincoln Park wins title this year, we'll talk again.
Billy Buckets
11:14
What rule in HS basketball other than the instituting a shot clock, would you change or like to see?
Mike White
11:17
Two. And neither of them are rules, but just calls that bother me. When a ball gets loose and two players have their hands on it. No one really has possession. One player calls timeout anyway and the official automatically gives them the timeout and the ball. Another one is a charge call when an offensive player actually goes sideways to avoid contact, maybe even with a Euro-step, barely brushes the defender, the defender falls and a charge is called. Just don't call anything. Third one is lack of calls on grab and hook on players in lane. Is that enough?
Guest
11:17
Will there ever be two classes: Private(Recruitable), vs Public(We got what we got)?
Mike White
11:18
Chances are about 1,000 to 1.
Coach O
11:18
I understand the comments about Vinnie Cugini jacking up a lot of shots and playing in 1A contributing greatly to his point total. However, he scored 40 against Imani and I’m sure he put up a lot of shots to do so but don’t you have to be good to create that many shots for yourself? Beat kids off the dribble, get penetration into the lane, make contested 3 pointers, all while you are the other team’s sole defensive focus?
Mike White
11:21
Of course Vinnie Cugini is good. Very good. To score that much, even at Class 1A level, you have to be good. But truly part of the story that people always ask about is how much does he shoot and what is the competition like? Those are fair questions. I haven't seen him this year yet. But everyone says he is much more efficient. I give him credit. No matter what, a record is a record. And he will soon have it. But stats are a part of the story. And you have to admit that two years ago, taking 35 shots a game and sometimes more than 40 ... that is ridiculously high. But that's the way Aquinas plays. So be it.
11:22
Vinnie Cugini should be proud of his stats. But I have to tell a story I remember of a comment Rodney Gallagher made when I was around him and the subject came up of Vinnie. When he told he was averaging 35 shots and shot more than 40 times in some games, Rodney said, "40 shots? Our TEAM usually takes only 40 some shots in a game."
Unbiased fan
11:22
Why have you not been giving Lebo hoops any love? They beat USC and are a gritty team. Lucas Garofoli, Michael Pfeuffer, and Carter Gould are excelling.
Mike White
11:26
If you're going to come on here and make comments, please be more informed. I just covered their game last week against USC and wrote about their team and quoted Joey David as saying how he likes his team. Obviously, you're not the same couple people who have been on this chat the last year and called me a Mt. Lebanon lover and why do I cover Mt. Lebanon so much? Another great example of: You can never win when you cover high schools. You say I don't give Mt. Lebanon any love. Others say I'm a Mt. Lebanon lover. ... Well, I just love this stuff.
Paul
11:26
Who is the leading candidate for the Lebo football job? Will they stay in house or hire someone from outside?
Mike White
11:26
I have no idea. But whoever gets it, I will have to give them a lot of love.
Pepper
11:27
Interesting article about the freshman, Gribble, from GCC. It said she got scholarship offers from going to elite team camps, not AAU.  Is that typical?
Mike White
11:28
Some colleges, not that many, do have camps where they try to get players in. It happens much more in football than basketball. It's not all that popular in basketball. Remember, St. Joseph's offered when she went to camp there. And St. Joe's is where her sister was playing. See the connection?
Pepper
11:28
A follow up question.  If an offer is made to an 8th grader and the coach is no longer at the college by the time the player graduates from high school, will the offer still be honored?
Mike White
11:29
That's up to the college and the coach. An offer can be pulled at any time for any reason. A coach can offer a kid in 11th grade and the same coach can pull the offer whenever they want.
Chick Fil A Pickle
11:29
Mike do you know who has applied for the Lebo job? I have heard Marty Spieler, Ryan Lehmeier, and Vinny Ziccardi?
Mike White
11:30
I have no idea, but I think Joe David should apply and coach both football and basketball.
LeboFan
11:30
Lebo needs to get some more love in hoops. Lucas Garofoli is a monster.
Mike White
11:30
Yes, Godzilla-like. He'll tear down your town. They should make a movie about him.
Joe
11:30
Why does the big 56 exist?  Does Big 56 actually have governing powers?
Mike White
11:32
No. Big 56 is just a group of ADs from the 5A and 6A schools. It's like a chapter of ADs. They get together to discuss ideas, etc. They have no governing power.
Guest
11:33
Game of the night: Uniontown at LH, who ya got and why?
Mike White
11:33
Laurel Highlands - because of Gallagher and DeShields.
WpialSportsNews
11:34
I am hearing a few former hoop coaches are being sought by schools to come back to the sideline. One is a veteran who has been out a couple years with over 300 wins, but has been fired twice. The other is Astorino from Ambridge. Saw his younger son is a freshman starter and doing well and his older son is back from acl recovery and getting college offers. Wonder if he will come back to coaching with that busy schedule?
Mike White
11:34
No idea.
JW
11:34
Who do you see as the player of year for 6A girls?
Mike White
11:35
Too early. But Upper St. Clair's Rylee Kalocay has to be up there. So does North Allegheny's Jasmine Timmerson.
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