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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.12.24
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Mike White
11:00
Well, two WPIAL football title games will be played Saturday at Norwin. ... eight WPIAL semifinal games Friday. ... Westinghouse in PIAA playoffs Friday. ... And hey, the "official" start of basketball practice is this Friday. So there's plenty to chat about, right? Weeee reaaaaady, weeee reaaaady ... for y'all!
BBall Season
11:00
Who are your favorites at 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A for basketball? Just based off what you know?
Mike White
11:05
And we start off with someone wanting predictions. I don't think most classes in the WPIAL have a definitive No. 1 team heading into the season. Except in 1A, where I think Neighborhood Academy is certainly No. 1. Courtney Wallace one of area's top players. 2A is really tough to pick a No. 1 team. Aliquippa moved to 3A. I think the Quips might have to be No. 1 in 3A. In 4A, you've got Knoch, North Catholic, Quaker Valley as a few top teams. There's Deer Lakes, too. 5A really tough. I don't mean to cop out, but I couldn't pick a No. 1 5A team right now. 6A is definitely Upper St. Clair.
Imani Lover
11:05
Imani Christian (AKA Oak Hill) in 6A. How do they compare to other teams?
Mike White
11:07
Imani won the past two 1A state titles, but voluntarily will play 6A this year. They will be decent. They don't have any size, but a lot of teams don't. Guard play should be good. R.J. Sledge is a talented guard. But I can tell you there will be no state championship for them in 6A.
OldSchoolCity
11:07
Have there been any openings or suspected openings in WPIAL HC's?  I know Shadyside opened earlier this year.
Mike White
11:07
So far, that's the only one I know.
LeboKid
11:07
Mike, terrific piece about Carlynton's Grace Prepelka.  A straight-A student and 3-sport athlete.  Did she share her potential college plans with you?  It would seem that a young lady with that much going for her would attract a great deal of attention.  Thanks, Mike.
Mike White
11:10
Why, thank you Lebo kid. You're talking about Grace Prepelka who played soccer, tennis and cross country -- all in the fall season. And she did it for four years. I think it's an amazing story. As for college, she said she is unsure. At best, she could maybe go to a small college and try to compete. She said she might even go to a bigger school and possibly try to play a club sport. But academics is her first concern. And that's not hogwash, either. She's a 4.0 student.
JP
11:10
It looks like this week's championship games will be only on NFHS streaming.
Mike White
11:10
I think so. I know the four games at Acrisure next week will be live on KDKA+
Jeff
11:10
After attending games and watching High School for nearly 50 Years I am puzzled at the WPIAL Administration handling of the 6A Classification. 7 schools in 6Ajust doesn’t do anything for anyone.
Sure year after year CC and NA are the bullies and their well run programs win the WPIAL and then less than successful at States. What they need is competition to raise their level of play. I would like to offer a commonsense solution.
Take the 7 schools and add 5 schools for a total of 12 and let 8 schools qualify for the playoffs in 6A. Then take the remaining 13 schools in 5 A and add  3 schools for a total of 16 and let 8 schools qualify for the playoffs in 5A.
Use something like the PIHL Competitive Formula to sort out the details between divisions. This would create better competition for all involved. This yielded a State Championship for Pine Richland in hockey last year.
What amazes me is the WPIAL was quick to move Aliquippa to 5A and they are a small school and punish them after 13 trips to the finals ?
Mike White
11:14
First off, let's get one thing straight. It was NOT the WPIAL that was bumping up Aliquippa. That was the PIAA under their competitive-balance rule and classification formula. Don't blame the WPIAL. As for 6A, yes it's terrible. It's boring. But what is the WPIAL to do? Yes, you could put 5A and 6A together in the regular season, but I know there is no way most 5A teams want to compete in playoffs with 6A teams.
Hs official
11:14
Mike. What’s your opinion on the new flop rule in HS basketball. “when a player simulates being fouled or makes theatrical or exaggerated movements when there is no illegal contact.” it’s a warning to the bench. Then subsequent acts will be a technical to the team.
Mike White
11:14
No problem with it. I think charges have gotten out of hand, and I hate the charge call where a player is going sideways, maybe with a Euro step, and just brushes a defender slightly, and the defender falls and gets a charge.
Roger
11:15
What's the status of the "Coach" from Imani?
Mike White
11:15
WPIAL board of directors has a meeting next week. Something might be addressed there.
Hoops 2025
11:15
Hi Mike, Have you heard any other rumblings related to Sewickley Academy basketball pay for play? I know the billionaire currently sponsors kids from his son’s AAU team to attend the school, but I didn’t know if it also extended to the high school team. Thanks
Mike White
11:19
I don't know the full situation and I don't know if I'd call it "pay for play." But yes, I've been told by some coaches that some new players have showed up the past few years, from where, I don't know. It is a situation that has a lot of people watching. I think we have to let it play out a little and find out the facts. But yes, I do know that Thomas Tull donated $20 million two years ago to Sewickley Academy. That has been reported. Money to be used for various things. One was "a new scholarship initiative to expand access." Hmmm.
Bones
11:19
Which HS basketball program will bar you from their gym this season?
Mike White
11:19
I think Monaca.
TM
11:19
USC/PT/BP all in the final 4 for 5A. I don't remember 3 of the final 4 teams being from same conference recently. Has it happened recently? Do you remember a time multiple teams from same conference made it this far? Just curious to see your take on these 3 teams as compared to previous years. I have seen them all play and they are all pretty good this year.
Mike White
11:23
While it's not commonplace for three teams from same conference to make semis, it's not that unusual any more. Remember, most classes only have three conferences now. Last time it happened was only two years ago in Class 1A. In 2021, it was McKeesport, Belle Vernon and TJ. It happens.
X
11:23
I've seen the Big 4 in 5A all play multiple times. In the case of Upper Saint Clair, Bethel Park, Peters Township, I've seen them play each other. I've also saw USC against Penn Hills last week. I do think USC is the best of those 3, but I also think they are all capable of beating each other.
Mike White
11:24
No doubt. I wouldn't be surprised if any of the four semifinalists won it all. My pick at state of playoffs was Pine-Richland.
Wpial prep hoops
11:24
north gate in 2a
Mike White
11:25
No doubt, they will be good. I've seen them a couple times in fall. They have two players with length who could be a handful in 2A.
X
11:25
I've seen Pine Richland against Central Catholic, North Allegheny, and Penn Hills    If Strader is healthy, I give Pine the edge to win the WPIAL.   The other qbs can take advantage of open lanes and get 10-15 yards. Strader doesn't need an open lane and he can take it to the house from anywhere. His arm is also pretty darn good.  I do think USC has the best team from top to bottom.    It should be a lot of fun to watch this play out.  Who do you pick and why?
Mike White
11:27
As I sad, I picked Pine at start of playoffs. Strader was banged up a little (shoulder, collarbone) after the NA game, but played last week. He is very key. But USC definitely is good. Really like their defense. But Peters and Bethel Park also are good.
J D
11:27
Mike, is Montour out of the state playoffs since they lost to Mars?
Mike White
11:27
What?
Pops
11:27
It looks like 6A basketball is starting to look like football.  Only 2 8 team sections?  How are the playoff teams going to be decided?  Top 4 or 5?
Mike White
11:28
In basketball, any sections with seven or less teams will get four teams to the playoffs. Sections with eight teams get five to the playoffs.
X
11:28
Were you surprised how easily Thomas Jefferson beat Aliquippa?   It wasn't just the 3 punt miscues.  TJ pretty much had their way up front.  It's tough to beat good competition when you take a dozen or so penalties a game.   The bodies of the lineman were strikingly different between the two teams.   Do you think Warfield will return?
Mike White
11:31
Ahhhh, not really that surprised. You have to remember, a few of Aliquippa's top players on defense were ineligible for the playoffs because of PIAA transfer rule. But Thomas Jefferson is very good on the lines and this sophomore running back has really developed. Aliquippa will be back. Many non-senior starters. I don't know for sure about Mike Warfield, but my guess is he won't come back.
Football Fan
11:31
What matchup is bringing the largest crowd to acrisure next week???
Mike White
11:31
Class 5A. Nothing else close.
Godzilla
11:32
I think Peters/USC will be the most epic battle since I fought Mothra in Tokyo Bay. Agreed ?
Mike White
11:33
No question. Biggest battle probably since Bruno Sammartino and George "The Animal" Steele went at it.
Peter
11:33
Southern Columbia goes down!! It will be nice to see some new blood in the AA state championship game this year.
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