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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.14.23
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Mike White
10:56
Hey, let's get chatting a little earlier than 11. Lots to talk about - WPIAL playoffs, Steel Valley being suspended rest of season, etc. So let the questions fly. Store is now open.
Coach O
10:56
When you retire(hopefully not for a few more years), do you expect to feel like ok, I’ve seen my share of high school games, I’m doing different things now on Friday nights, or you’ll still catch a fair amount of high school sports events?
Mike White
10:58
Hey Coach O. High school sports will forever be a part of me. I've liked it since I was a kid and watching WPIAL basketball on Channel 13 with "Chilly" Billy Cardille and Bill Hillgrove. Not ready to retire yet, although I am on the back nine. But no way I can go cold turkey, especially with basketball.
HSFan
10:58
Do you think that the committee was to reliant on recent results in seeding? If the first game in section play doesn’t matter, why play it? I think they should look at resumes as a whole.
Mike White
11:02
Totally agree. And although they say they look at "what have you done lately," they weren't consistent with that. Look at Woodland Hills and Fox Chapel. Woodland Hills won its final three games, including beating Fox Chapel and then Penn Hills, who I feel definitely deserved the No. 1 seed. Fox Chapel lost its final two games to Shaler and Woodland Hills. Woodland Hills and Fox Chapel's records were similar - one game difference. They tied for third place in the section. Yet, Fox Chapel got the 11 seed and Woodland Hills No. 14. So I guess "what have you done for me lately" didn't apply there. But what do I know? I'm just the stinkin' media.
HSFan
11:03
Thought it was unfair that teams like Shenango, Beaver, and Seton were placed in the same quadrant as teams they have already played twice. Each of those teams could have made a run to the semis, but now they play the 1 seed.
Mike White
11:05
I agree that it would be nice to not play a team from your section in the first or quarterfinals. But sometimes that's hard to do. And if you're going to try and truly seed teams, then it happens. But I agree with you. Like Seton LaSalle. Maybe they could have been placed at the No. 10 seed instead of No. 9.
East end Byron
11:05
Mike. Does Gallagher get an automatic Fab 5 because it makes a great story?  If it is just based on this season, it seems Valentine, Spratt and possibly Champagne, along with a few underclassmen, were more productive and outplayed Rod and carried their teams.  Not a knock on Rod, but since he stopped playing year round he probably now Fab 10.
Mike White
11:07
There will be some tough decisions on Fab 5. We'll see how playoffs end up. But no, Gallagher doesn't have an automatic. And he's having about the same season - productivity wise - as the past few. And the Fab 5 isn't based just on points. One good thing that we do is not pick this until end of season.
PEteacher
11:07
Tough seeing Uniontown/Laurel Highlands on the same side of the bracket....  although it would be a great semi-final(if they both were fortunate to get that far).   Thoughts?
Mike White
11:07
I go back and forth on this. Part of me says put them on different sides of the bracket. Then again, go ahead and settle it in the semifinals.
New kid on the block?
11:08
Jack Dunbar is a name I've heard pop up a few times... never seen Peters though. Is he as good as advertised? What are your thoughts on him?
Mike White
11:10
Saw him for first time live Friday night. I like him. Has some muscle to him. Pretty strong kid and looks like he can score in a variety of ways. Only a junior, so keep an eye on him now - and in future. Will be a key for Peters if they are going to win a championship.
Just Sayin'
11:10
The biggest gripe I think any team could have with the brackets is Penn Hills.  Peters Twp. is not one of the best 2 teams in Class 5A, period.  Any connection with Bryan Geyer, AD at Peter's and high ranking member of the basketball committee and this seed.  I like to think that those guys aren't favoring their own sides, but that seed makes me question things.
Mike White
11:13
I also think Penn Hills should have been No. 1 seed. And so do many other people, including many coaches I talked to. Peters Township is good, no doubt. Peters could even win championship. I just thought Penn Hills was definitely the choice. It seems the Class 5A No. 1 seed is the one most people are talking about and questioning. Good thing is, it will all be played out in the tournament. Peters has a chance to win it. But so does Penn Hills and a few others.
Just Sayin'
11:13
Noticed that it looks like Class 5A and 4A Boys switched championship spots so 5A is Thursday, 4A is Friday now.  Do you know the final championship order for each of the 3 days?
Mike White
11:15
You are correct. The 5A boys championship is Thursday at 9 and 4A is Friday at 9. No idea the reason for the change. The championship dates and times are on the brackets, which are on WPIAL web site. But if you are asking for boys it is: 6A boys Saturday March 4 at 7, 5A boys Thursday at 9, 4A boys Friday at 9, 3A boys Friday at 5, 2A boys Sasturday at 1, 1A boys Thursday at 5.
North2South
11:15
What coaches have most impressed you this season?
Mike White
11:16
Many. Not going to point out one or two.
Just Sayin'
11:16
The real question that everyone wants to know...with North Allegheny still have that awesome music before playoff games that gets everyone fired up.  Nothing like a slow country song to get the crowd going.
Mike White
11:16
Ring of Fire from Johnny Cash. Wooooo hooooo!!! Can't wait. That one really gets everyone pumped up at a high school basketball game.
Ref dad
11:17
Mike, a few questions about the seeding committee for basketball.  Different committees for boys and girls?  Are they athletic directors. Also how does one get appointed to committee. Maybe an independent group would be smarter. Mike white for committee head!!  Thank you.
Mike White
11:22
Same committee for boys and girls. Eight are ADs. Two superintendents, couple principals. Hey, it's a tough job. There are always going to be critics, rightly or wrongly. It goes with the territory. Overall, committee does a very good job. But committee has also done a few things that sometimes really make you scratch your head? I won't get into the particulars. A coach told me he wishes they would do it somewhat like Ohio. He said coaches are involved in the seedings and pairings in Ohio. Yes, coaches might not be unbiased, but if there's enough of them, you can at least get a lot of opinions from people who see a lot of games, including film. It's an interesting concept.
City League
11:22
You think any city league team is topping Dice this week?
Mike White
11:22
No.
demosthenes98
11:23
In your opinion, which WPIAL or City League basketball team, boys or girls, has the best uniform?
Mike White
11:23
Anyone with purple.
Hoop Insider
11:23
What happened to Chartiers Valley? 12-0 to start the season with some quality wins against good teams. Then finishing 3-7 to end the season and missing the playoffs.
Mike White
11:24
What happened is they are in a very good section and lost some tough games. Doesn't mean they are a bad team. It's just that the section is very good.
HM
11:24
Steel valley actually out of playoffs?
Mike White
11:24
Huh? Coach is suspended for the rest of the season. Not the team.
Hayden Merchant
11:24
Is Steel Valley actually suspended for the playoffs or is it just the coach?
Mike White
11:26
I just answered it above. And here's the story. It's only the coach suspended. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2023/02/13/...
bob
11:26
why do you hate on peters township so much? most dominant team in the wpial, much better than teams like bethel and north hills…
Mike White
11:28
I do not hate on Peters. Never did. They are a good team. They could even win the championship. All I've said is that I believe Penn Hills deserved the No. 1 seed over Peters. That's my opinion. It's not hating on Peters. I covered Peters Township's game Friday. Joe Urmann has done a great job after not even making playoffs a year ago. They are a fun team to watch. Just because I thought Penn Hills deserved the No. 1 seed isn't "hate" on Peters. A lot of other people thought the same thing.
Huh ?
11:28
Explain the reason for picking Norwin over USC in Girls 6A ?
Mike White
11:28
I didn't do the girls forecast. Keith Barnes did the story and the predictions. Me? I'd pick USC.
hannah
11:28
why do you believe peters township is so bad?
Mike White
11:31
Here we go again. Please show me where I said Peters is bad. C'mon, man. They are a good team. They aren't 19-3 by accident. As I've said before, I just think Penn Hills should've been the No. 1 seed. I would've put Peters No. 2. I don't think that's saying a team is bad. Again, Peters might win the championship.
John G
11:31
Do you montour has a chance against the gritty North Catholic team?
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