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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.18.25
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Mike White
10:59
Good morning to y'all. Quarterfinals of WPIAL basketball playoffs start tomorrow night. It's about to get real fun - and it's about time we talk. Chat is now officially started.
swish43
10:59
I got the NFHS Network last year so my Sister could watch her Grandson play Basketball from another State. It was disappointing to say the least. This year it's been a little better but still too many issues. I myself tried to watch a WPIAL Playoff Game Friday Night and the first half was fine. But the second half never came back on. I know the Tribune also bid for the Rights, they would have done a much better job!
Mike White
11:02
Honestly, I have never watched a game on the NFHS network, but I have heard many of the bad stories since last year. Sorry, but it is what it is. The WPIAL went with this.
4A Hoops Guy
11:03
Some awful juicy quarterfinals in Class 4A Boys' tomorrow night.  To me, Avonworth/Knoch, Beaver/Central Valley, and North Catholic/Deer Lakes are all toss-ups.  Do we see some bracket chaos tomorrow?
Mike White
11:04
4A games tonight are really, really good. That Avonworth-Knoch game, especially. Two top point guards going at it - Rowan Carmichael and Jackson Bauman. Knoch was No. 1 at start of year and Avonworth No. 1 for much of the season. 4A field is really good.
Bobby B
11:04
I watched parts of the SV v Woody and NH v Butler game last night.  Here is my take.  Scoop is a terror on the defensive end.  SV came in to this game a train wreck and left a dumpster fire.  They are not the team that started the year hot.  What happened?
Mike White
11:07
Scoop Smith is tremendous. He's the Mugsy Bogues of the WPIAL (I hope you know who Mugsy is). Lately, Woodland Hills let Scoop just roam a little on defense, follow the ball, take chances - and he causes havoc. Still say he might be fastest player on basketball court I've ever seen in WPIAL. And don't forget he can score some, too. I love his demeanor, too. Seems like a genuine good kid. Depending on what he does in track, odds-on favorite for athlete of the year?
Girls Basketball Scores
11:07
Saw two recent playoff games for girls basketball that ended with a team scoring 8 and 12 points. I think that is all the evidence there needs to be to ascertain the notion that there does not need to be 6 classes for girls basketball.
Mike White
11:09
There are many who feel there doesn't need to be 6 classes in any sport. Six classes has certainly watered down things. But on the other hand, 6 classes has helped some teams be more competitive and enjoy some success. There is a flip side to it. I also like four classes better, but I don't see it ever going back. Remember, six classes was the PIAA choice - not WPIAL. And the scores of some of these first-round games is horrible. But I'm not here to say they should cut back on playoff teams.
Bobby B
11:10
The NH vs Butler game was strange.  Butler did not guard two players almost daring them to shoot and face guarded the  other 3 NH players.  I have never seen that before.  It worked!  Butler also shot is very well from 3.  I think they will beat NC if they shoot like that again.  Thoughts?
Mike White
11:11
Butler did it when the two played a month ago. It wasn't new. And a few other teams also played the same defense against North Hills. Butler vs. New Castle is extremely interesting. How well Butler shoots it will be key. But remember, New Castle can shoot it some also.
Friends and Family
11:12
Mike, in your years of covering hs sports, what do you think the most unexpected result is that you have witnessed?
Mike White
11:17
Wow. That's a tough one. I wasn't at the game, but was writing a roundup in the office for the first round of the playoffs in 1986. When the score came in to the Post-Gazette of Canevin vs. Beaver Falls, we didn't believe it. We thought someone was playing a joke. Beaver Falls was 21-1. Two-time defending WPIAL champ. No. 1-ranked in the state. Had front line of 6-6, 6-7 and 6-10. Canevin was 11-13 and no starter taller than 6-2. Unreal. Canevin won 56-55. I still say maybe greatest upset ever in WPIAL playoffs.
Coach15
11:17
WHO, in WPIAL &/or PIAA, thinks all the $$$$$, being dumped into Sewickley Academy, & the makeup of their BB team, are not connected?
Mike White
11:17
No comment.
TM
11:17
WPIAL announces playoff pairings 2/10...most if not all WPIAL boys/girls play meaningless game that same night. PT's Wetzel gets injured in said meaningless game. Why are these games even scheduled after the playoff brackets are released? Why not start playoffs sooner? Or have regular season start later to avoid gap at end of regular season and start of playoffs. Shame to see such a good player have to miss playoff game(s) in senior year in situation like this.
Mike White
11:20
Sorry, but I don't understand your logic. Those games aren't scheduled by the WPIAL. The schools schedule them. They don't have to schedule them. Some teams like to play that game on a Monday and have it not be a section game. There is no perfect system. If you ended the regular season earlier, people would complain. If they cut back on number of teams in playoffs, people would complain.
Andrew
11:22
In 2A boys basketball man did Chartiers-Houston get screwed on seeding.  They are section champs and were seeded 7th, below the first and second place teams of every other section.  Last night they blew out a good Shenango team by 20 only to get rewarded with the #2 seed Sewickley who many think shouldn’t be eligible for class 2A due to transfers and recruits.  Why did this team get screwed so badly in seeding?  20-3 record, section champs, average win by 20 points and top 2 scoring D in all of 2A.  Worst seed job I’ve ever seen in any class, any sport by the WPIAL.
Mike White
11:26
Totally disagree. Char-Houston might go on a playoff run. We will see. But let's be honest. That section is bad. Jeff-Morgan, West Greene, Carmichaels, Beth-Center, Mapletown are some of the teams in that section. And Char -Houston has four playoff wins in school history. Four!!! Like I said, Char-Houston might be good enough to go on a playoff run. I have not seen C-H. But history doesn't help in playoff seedings. Neither does losing to West Greene and getting blown out by Keystone Oaks, which Char-Houston did.
Hsfan
11:26
Besides Gonzalez from Kiski, are there any other notable players who can’t play in the playoffs due to transferring?
Mike White
11:26
I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any right off the top of my head.
Brad T
11:27
When will the PIAA separate out private schools from public schools, or at least make them all play in 6A.  It’s tiring seeing good small town public school teams beat by private/catholic schools with rosters built with kids from all over the place.  If a public school gets a transfer from a neighboring school, they get punished.  If a private school gets an entire roster from kids from other cities, counties, or even overseas it’s considered fair.  I think we’re all tired of seeing the A and AA divisions dominated by private schools!
Mike White
11:31
Well Brad T, you are I think the 23,466th person to make this argument in the past 30 years. I've been keeping count. Sorry, but it ain't gonna change. We all know the story, but the PIAA doesn't want to change. So ...
Gerry
11:31
With Sunday's City Championship win, Is Shacter from 'Dice a shoo-in for Fab 5? Winning trumps everything IMO
Mike White
11:33
It seems you're suffering from delusions again, Gerry. Call a doctor.
Old timer
11:33
Typically a big man gets college offers if they have raw skills but a lot of potential. I was shocked to see the Allderdice guard on the bench the entire fourth quarter of city game this weekend. Any insight there? Does he have potential but is still raw? I’d expect that kid to play the entire game
Mike White
11:33
I wasn't at the game. No idea who you are talking about.
Old Timer
11:34
I've seen non-game personnel, presumably a WPIAL representative, involved in the customary pregame meetings between team captains and game officials before playoff games. They seem to have a lot to say. I don't expect you to know the answer to this, but I can't imagine anything they have to say having a positive influence on games.
Mike White
11:36
What? Thanks for the comment, Negative Nelly. Do you think what a WPIAL rep says in the pregame meeting has an effect on the game? Sometimes the comments on this chat amaze me. But it's part of the reason I like doing this chat - to see the ridiculousness from people.
Smokin’ Jim
11:36
Top of the mornin’, Mike! Congrats on semi retirement and all you have done. Any thoughts on why the talent in the city is so down? The city championship game was one of the worst I’ve seen in the last 10-15 years. Not the same firepower that there once was from a talent standpoint. I had expected more from Jackson jr / Schacter given all the hype but was actually more impressed with the Allderdice big man and guard off bench Keith Taylor.
Mike White
11:38
Can I ask you a question? OK I just did. But where is all this "hype" that you talk about to Jackson Jr. and Schachter? Besides a person or two on this chat (who might be a relation) with ridiculous weekly comments, where has anyone said Schachter is one of the top players around?
4A Hoops Guy
11:38
Let's say you are granted the throne of the WPIAL Chair for one weekend.  That weekend would happen to be the weekend of the WPIAL Basketball Championships.  Besides hanging out in the courtside suite with your buddies, what changes would you make the WPIAL Basketball Championship weekend to make it an even better experience?  I think an easy one is to get the student sections closer to the floor.
Mike White
11:41
I agree with you. I've said it for years. Let the students in those end zone seats. And don't give me it's for security reasons. But otherwise, what more can you do with the title games. Sure, Cooper Fieldhouse at Duquesne would be a great place, but does Duquesne even want the games? Plus, I've said it over and over. Duquesne just isn't big enough for the final few games on Friday and Saturday nights. Can't put those games there - and please don't bring up having the games at two different places.
LeboKid
11:41
Good morning, Mike. Even without Liam Sheely in the starting lineup, Mt. Lebanon looked strong last night, albeit against somewhat lessor competition. With a healthy Sheely, Lebo could be the dark horse title contender. What's your perspective on the Lebo-Imani Christian matchup? Thanks, Mike.
Mike White
11:43
One of the best quarterfinal matchups. I don't think Sheely will be 100%. Been a tough year for him with injuries, but is a really good player. Tough call against Imani. I don't know yet who I like.
UTFan
11:43
Excited for the start of 5a Boys tonight.  As a Uniontown fan, I think section 1 is very underrated.  Latrobe, Gateway and Penn Trafford all have very difficult roads to the final four but I think at least one will make it along with Uniontown.  What do you think of Penn Trafford's chances against Baldwin tonight?  Or Gateway vs Moon?  I think these are going to be great contests.
Mike White
11:44
Gateway vs. Moon is very interesting. I would not be surprised at a Gateway win, but I'll still take Moon. Baldwin certainly isn't unbeatable, but I don't see Penn-Trafford doing it.
Connor g
11:44
It would be cool if you did quarter century team article. Starting 5/Top 5 list from each school since 2000. For boys and girls
Mike White
11:45
You want me to pick a top 5 from over 130 boys and girls teams since 2000? Wow. Never could do it.
Whats the deal
11:46
So what the story on Seely with Mt Lebanon ? They're toast without him
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