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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.15.22
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Mike White
10:59
Pairings and seedings are out for WPIAL basketball playoffs. And don't forget the City League championships for boys and girls are Sunday at The Pete. Personally, my favorite time of year. So, let's talk.
Freddy
10:59
Looks like the WPIAL changed up the schedules for the finals. Switched 4A to Thursday 9:00 and 2a boys 1:00 Saturday
Mike White
11:00
Yes, a few changes in finals schedule. Also there aren't two sessions any longer on Saturday. Used to be there were three games, and a break when arena would be cleared. Now it's five games Saturday, one after another. Last game is at 7 and not 9.
Bigfan
11:01
Saw in your playoff primer the quips have the 3rd longest playoff streak. Who are the top 5 ?
Mike White
11:02
Monessen 41 years in a row, and streak is still active. Blackhawk 31 years in a row from 1984-2014. Then Quips are tied with Char Valley, which made it 24 years in a row from 1994-2017.
WpialBasketballFan
11:02
Who has the biggest home court advantage through the quarters now that they play at home? I’m thinking new castle or LH.
Mike White
11:03
Yes, New Castle will be tough to beat at home and Laurel Highlands fans are coming out. But there are others who will have large, loud crowds also. They're not the only two. And student sections will show up more for the home games.
Go Steelers
11:03
Do you think OLSH could win Class A. Considering they play in 2A which is the worst of the 6 classifications. And OLSH are defending state champions and they have refused to play good teams. Howevrr
Mike White
11:04
"Could" OLSH win Class 1A? C'mon, man. Of course they could. And just a note. OLSH's non-section schedule might not be great, but OLSH did have a few games scheduled against pretty good teams, including Washington, but they were canceled for one reason for another.
WPIAL Hoops Fan
11:04
I wish the open tournament for basketball was this year. Seneca Valley being out while PT, Norwin, and Hempfield are in seems wrong. Why not take all 11 next year for 6A?
Mike White
11:06
For years there have been good teams in the Northern section who don't make playoffs and are better than other teams. Just the way it is unfortunately. Still, you have to remember they take four of five teams from the Northern section. That's a lot. But I agree that Seneca is certainly better than a few teams in the playoffs.
Pants
11:06
Best time of year, don't you agree? Good games to be seen every night!   What are two boys classes where #1 seed has toughest road to final?
Mike White
11:07
6A - North Hills. They play winner of NA and Baldwin. If NA wins, which isn't a guarantee, North Hills will have to play NA for the fourth time. NA just lost to North Hills by one this past Friday.
11:08
More about toughest road for No. 1s. Laurel Highlands in 5A most definitely. Also Quaker Valley in 4A. North Catholic and Lincoln Park are on Quaker Valley side of the bracket.
Dawg
11:08
Do you know when the Wpial will release sections for next two years for winter and spring sports?
Mike White
11:08
No, I do not. They still haven't released football schedules.
Fan Man
11:09
Is it me, or did Montour get a better draw as the 2 seed in 4A Boys then Quaker Valley did as the 1 seed?  QV is going to have to either beat Blackhawk a 3rd time or play a red-hot Deer Lakes team in the quarterfinals.  Also, 4 teams from QV's section are on their side of the bracket.
Mike White
11:12
I agree with you - partly. But I think WPIAL seeded them correctly. Heck, what if they put Montour at No. 4 seed? That would be all teams from QV section on same side of bracket. Lincoln Park most certainly should be seeded ahead of Uniontown. But you have to think of this. It's not like Quaker Valley has to play both North Catholic or Lincoln Park. Both of those teams can't get to the semifinals. If they win first-round games, North Catholic and Lincoln Park will meet in quarterfinals.
Joe
11:12
What was the biggest surprise in the playoff seeding for boys hoops
Mike White
11:12
I don't think there was a big surprise.
Willy
11:13
I am loving the home games for the first few rounds of the playoffs. It rewards the best teams and brings a better atmosphere than neutral site games. Do you think this will be the new normal for the WPIAL playoffs?
Mike White
11:14
True, about rewarding better teams. But I disagree about atmospheres. I think once you get to the quarterfinals in a lot of these classifications, the atmosphere is pretty dang good. I've seen some quarterfinal games over the years that had packed houses at big gyms - and great atmospheres. And yes, the WPIAL will look at this format going forward. They did it a little in volleyball and soccer this year. Plus, football teams played at home through quarterfinals.
buckets
11:15
Is Bishop Canevin a top 5 team in the WPIAL since they beat North Catholic by 27. If not is Canevin a top 10 team
Mike White
11:16
I wouldn't put them in top 5. They play a really tough schedule, but remember they lost to Penn Hills, Central Catholic, Butler and Fox Chapel.
dunks
11:16
Who would win in a game Canevin or OLSH
Mike White
11:17
That would be very interesting. I'd have to think more about a winner.
Call It Like It Is
11:17
Funny how the teams with members on the basketball committee (Mt. Lebo, Fox Chapel, Fort Cherry, Carlynton, Hampton) all managed to get pretty favorable draws.  I'm not saying Fox Chapel isn't the #2 seed, but they have a much easier quarterfinal playing PR or BP as opposed to North Hills who will have to play NA again to get to the final 4.
Mike White
11:20
I don't agree with you on all of that. Fox Chapel definitely deserved the No. 2 seed. Foxes might possibly play Pine-Richland. That's no bargain. I'm tellin' ya Pine is still good and dangerous. Plus, Pine is supposed to be getting back one of its top players in Joe Dudkowski, who has been out with a hand injury. I know it might not seem right that North Hills might have to play a team for the fourth time in its first playoff game. But if you look at seedings, there was no way around it. You would've had to put North Allegheny at a 12 seed to keep them away from a section opponent in the first round. That wouldn't be fair to NA.
BeaverCountyPride
11:21
OK, Elllwood City was the true "darkhorse" last year reaching and winning the title game from the 11 seed.  Do you see any team seeded 5 or higher being able to get to the finals or even capable of winning it all?
Mike White
11:23
I think Ellwood City took advantage of the Class 3A field last year. In other words, not a lot of depth of real good teams in 3A last year. There are teams 5 or higher worth watching. Like Highlands and Gateway in 5A. Lincoln Park is a 5 seed in 4A. They're good enough to make a lot of noise. How good are South Allegheny, Washington and Neshannock in 3A? They're seeds 5-6-7.
BeaverCountyPride
11:24
Bishop Canevin has really reached out a challenge schedule this year full of really big schools.  I saw OLSH stepped up in class by beating Class 4A Ambridge by nearly 60 last night.  Suprised OLSH hasn't done so as well as they are 25-30 points better than any team in Class 2A.  Is the winning streak that important to the Chargers to continue to play the cupcakes?  This could come back to haunt them in the PIAA playoffs.
Mike White
11:25
As I said before, OLSH's non-section schedule isn't terrific. But they did have a few good non-section games canceled for one reason or another. Yes, I give props to Canevin for playing a tough schedule. But who says you have to play a bunch of teams in higher classes just because you're good in a lower class?
BeaverCountyPride
11:26
I know the basketball committee also made the new sections for 22-23 and 23-24 yesterday.  Do you know when the WPIAL BOD will approve those?
Mike White
11:26
Next board of directors meeting is Monday. Maybe then.
Dapper Dan
11:26
Do you agree?
Mike White
11:26
No.
BeaverCountyPride
11:26
Did you hear anything from the WPIAL if they would try to use RMU or other college gyms for the WPIAL Semifinals this year?
Mike White
11:27
They do not say where they will play semifinals. Although it would be great to play a few games at RMU or even Duquesne. Thing is, RMU or Duquesne have to "want" to host games.
BeaverCountyPride
11:27
Best Round of 16 out there in the guys playoffs?  I'd say it would be Rochy/Aquinas.
Mike White
11:29
That's an 8-9 game. Like the NCAA, 8-9 games are always worth watching. Like, Baldwin at NA in 6A.
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