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Mike White's high school sports chat: 02.21.23
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Mike White
10:52
Hey, let's get started a few minutes early. There are stories to write, games to attend, so let's get on it. Fire away with questions.
Hunter B.
10:52
How would you describe Vinnie Cugini's game to someone who has never seen him play? It's hard for me to understand how this kid has scored 3,000 points but really doesn't get a lot of "hype." Is he a product of the system?
Mike White
10:56
Doesn't get lot of hype? Really? Are you serious? What cave are you living in? We've had big features on him. Countdowns to the record. TV has done things on him. I think he's gotten plenty of hype. Basically, he's a scorer. Pure and simple. Not a shooter, a scorer. Gets to basket and is pretty quick at doing it. Yes, he has scored a ton of points against some lowly Class 1A competition, but there have been plenty of kids who have played at that level and didn't do this. Yes, Aquinas plays a style that let's him get many shots and many opportunities. Is he a Divison I player? Not even close. That's not to knock him. Take him for what he is, a marvelous player at the Class 1A level. By the way, he's going to Pitt-Johnstown.
Hunter B.
10:56
What's your take on the 4A quarterfinals? Can SA hang with LP? Can Hampton beat Highlands again for a 3rd time?
Mike White
10:57
It would take a monumental effort for South Allegheny to beat Lincoln Park. I hate to go comparative scores, but remember: Beaver almost knocked off Lincoln Park early in the season and South Allegheny just beat Beaver. South Allegheny has a standout guard in Bryce Epps. You need guards against Lincoln Park. But can they defend Lincoln Park?
Coach
10:57
Mike, any update to who are the longest tenured coaches at the same school?  Top 5?  Would have to think that Holzer may be the leader?
Mike White
10:57
Yes, I think Holzer might be the longest-tenured at one school. Others have coached longer, but not at one school.
Hunter B.
10:58
This has to be one of the tougher years to select a Fab 5 with this much talent around the WPIAL. Here's mine - Makhai Valentine, Royce Parham, Brandin Cummings, Meleek Thomas, Peter Kramer. What say you?
Mike White
10:59
It is very tough. Not going to give you my Fab 5 choices. Will wait until after the season. Some others will have say in choices, too. We poll a number of people, including coaches. But a few you mentioned are pretty safe bets. One of the big things will be what do we do with Vinnie Cugini? Will wait to decide.
TM
11:00
How does PIAA determine how many teams from each classification from WPIAL make it to state basketball tournament?
Mike White
11:00
It is determined by PIAA based on the number of teams in each classification.
Wash Pride
11:00
Hi Mike. Is there anyone in the WPIAL harder to stay in front of than Connor Spratt.  Went by our lockdown guy -past our double team and got anywhere on the court he wanted. Torched us for 31, Crazy handle.
Mike White
11:01
By the way, to Hunter B. about the Fab 5, you're missing a few names who are possibilities. Connor Spratt would be one you have to look at. Spratt is very talented offensively. Big scorer, but also a shooter. Scores at all three levels.
HSFan
11:01
Do you the like home playoff games? I think they should be reserved for the top 4 seeds. 8-9, 7-10 games should be neutral site.
Mike White
11:01
I like them.
Montour Fan
11:01
Thoughts on Montours underperforming season? as they got outplayed by a North Catholic team with no center, Montour had 6’9 Ama Sow but could not execute??
Mike White
11:03
Sow is indeed 6-9, but is very, very raw. Far from a polished player. Not to cut down on Montour, but I saw them live once and on film two games. Let's just say I'm not surprised at season they had. OK team, but certainly not one to make a playoff run.
Rebel Pride
11:03
Seton is now 28-3 in conference with Spratt on the floor and 1-8 without, last 2 yrs.   Is any team as reliant on one player? Carried team again last night- kid refuses to lose. Had 29 in 3 quarters before they took the air out and sat on lead.
Mike White
11:04
Yes, there are others. Take Royce Parham, Makhai Valentine, Royce Parham and some others off the team and see how they do. It's not just Spratt. Hey, when you have a star player who produces, of course you rely on them heavily.
HSFan
11:05
Seems pretty clear that there’s a pecking order in 4A, Teams at the top really separated themselves. Should make for an exciting quarters and Semis.
Mike White
11:08
I don't know about that, HSFAN. Yes, top four seeds are good. Lincoln Park, Laurel Highlands, Uniontown and Hampton. But I'm telling ya, Highlands is good. And you're going to tell me that No. 6 seed North Catholic isn't capable of making semifinals? And I've seen Belle Vernon twice in person. Loaded with athleticism, size and some talent. Have no clue how that team is only 11-11, with some bad losses. But remember Belle Vernon gave Laurel Highlands a game earlier this season. And remember South Allegheny almost beat New Castle. So it's just not a four-team race.
RF
11:08
Hello Mike. Lots of WPIAL Basketball to talk about. You are the man, so lets go!
Mike White
11:08
Thanks. Your check is in the mail.
Coach O
11:08
Do you think the Allderdice boys can make a decent run in western side of state bracket?
Mike White
11:09
Of course. Said all year, they're as good or better than any 6A team in WPIAL. Doesn't mean they will definitely get to the state final, but Dice is good. They have some size, experience and guard play is good. Those are things needed for playoff run.
Old Guy
11:09
Hey Mike. Do you have any idea what other side of state looks like in 6A? How does Allderdice stack up in terms of making to state final game? Thanks
Mike White
11:11
As always, other side of state in 6A is really good. Roman Catholic, Reading, etc. Good thing is, the bracket this year in 6A has WPIAL teams, a sub-regional of District 10, Allderdice and District 6, and District 3 teams (Harrisburg area). No Philly teams will play through western side of 6A bracket.
GL
11:11
Does BV have a chance to get its act together and compete with LH on Thursday?
Mike White
11:12
No chance at all. Quinton Martin, Zion Moore and rest should just hand in uniforms now and give up. C'mon, man. As I said before, Belle Vernon has a lot of good qualities. They haven't been able to put it together much. Coach was very honest about their problems. Check out some of their issues in this story I wrote last night. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2023/02/20/...
BBall Fan
11:13
4A Section 3 really showed up last night.  What are your thoughts and predictions about LH, Uniontown, and Belle Vernon all advancing? And a 3rd LH/BV rematch?
Mike White
11:15
Well, Laurel Highlands and Uniontown were big favorites to win first round games. And although Quaker Valley had a higher seed than Belle Vernon, it was no surprise Belle Vernon won. They're just better. Belle Vernon vs. Laurel Highlands is a heckuva game. Belle Vernon can win. But I'll still take Laurel Highlands. The Rodney Gallagher effect.
TM
11:16
I know WPIAL sets prices for playoff games for all sports. But I think it is ridiculous I have to pay $7 for each of my kids to go watch a playoff game. I have no problem paying for myself to go, but do you think it is a little off of the WPIAL not to have a kid/student price?
Mike White
11:16
There are student tickets. They are $5.
Squints Paladoris
11:17
You guys are going to have a tough time even coming down to 5 for All Section teams!  Look at the City, probably should be 4 Allderdice kids and the Perkins kid from Obama.  How do you guys figure that stuff out?
Mike White
11:18
We don't figure it out. All the coaches vote. They can't vote for their own players. They vote for six kids. First place gets 6 points, second 5 points, and so on. Takes us out of it because we don't see all these teams and players.
Upset
11:18
Of USC, Norwin, NA or Lebo girls which team is the most likely to get upset ?
Mike White
11:20
Lebo vs. Char Valley. But that really wouldn't be an upset. It's 4 vs. 5 seed. Char Valley lost to Lebo by only 6 pts. earlier this season.
Eyelivehoops
11:20
Mike, I've seen parents just completely puppet master their kids from the stands...I'm talking good players who don't need micromanaged.. as well as scream at the refs and the opposing players for the way they are playing on their child... I actually witnessed a parent call over an AD from the opposing school and demand the student section put away signs and quit chanting about his kid. There was nothing offensive about the chance or the signs. Just typical student section stuff.  Some parents are even  going so far as to pose as a sports writer and  write Twitter posts about their sons performance.  These same parents then whine when their kids aren't getting what they consider legit offers....do people feel college coaches are deaf,dumb and blind? What coach in his right mind would take on a kid hauling in that much baggage?
Mike White
11:25
Wow, that's really surprising - idiotic parents. Yes, I've seen some of it. Been going on for years and it continues, no matter how many announcements you make, how much security you have. I saw the father of one of the leading scorers in the WPIAL get thrown out of a game at his own gym this year. Heard some great comments last night, sitting behind Belle Vernon fans. Not everyone, but complained about almost every dang call. And how bout' this one? Guy yelled at official: "Guess you're just trying to make sure Westmoreland County team doesn't win." ... Yep, I'm sure the officials got together before the game and said, "Hey, let's make sure Westmoreland County teams don't win." ... You have to laugh. But at the same time it's sad. Parents, and some fans, just lose their perspective and minds when it's their own kid or team. It's mind-boggling. But hardly nothing surprises me any more.
11:26
Nothing should surprise me ever since that Hampton-Deer Lakes game from maybe, what, 20 or 25 years ago when fan came out of the stands and body slammed official on court and guy had to be taken away in ambulance. I wish we had phones for video back then.
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