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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.25.22
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Mike White
10:58
Can you believe this is final weekend of WPIAL football regular season? Where did time go? Fifty-five playoff spots have been filled. Twelve are open. Pairings and seedings come out Saturday evening. So let's talk.
WPIAL Lifer
10:59
Tri-County South jokes aside, the top two rushers in the WPIAL will meet on the field in the final week of the regular season on Friday. That surely hasn't happened very often, if ever.
Mike White
11:01
You're talking Colin Brady of West Greene and Landan Stevenson of Mapletown. Nice showdown. But I think Mapletown wins pretty easily. Not a good year for West Greene. Has it ever happened where the two leading rushers met in the regular-season finale? I'm not sure. But like you said, not often. I think Mapletown might even win one playoff game.
Wpial
11:01
Obviously the Rams got the win over Woodland Hills last week, but Ryan palmieri was 1/4 12 yards and 1 interception, is there any uncertainty about his ability to throw the ball as they start facing better teams in the playoffs?
Mike White
11:02
I have not seen Ryan Palmieri play QB. Just looking at his stats, he has had some decent games throwing. He's not a tremendous thrower, but you have to admit he's done pretty darn well at QB. One of major reasons for Pine's turnaround.
4A Hoops Fan
11:02
According to multiple sources, WPIAL boys basketball teams have scheduled at least six games against District 12 schools this season:
North Catholic at Archbishop Wood, Dec. 17
Archbishop Wood vs. Penn Hills, Dec. 29
Archbishop Wood Vs. Lincoln Park, Dec. 30
Philadelphia Constitution at Bishop Canevin, Jan.. 21
West Philadelphia will be in the area Dec. 29-30 but neither the event nor the participating schools have publicly confirmed the games.
This is good for WPIAL basketball!
Mike White
11:03
If you are right on all of them, that is indeed good. Nothing wrong with playing top competition and Philly has the tops. Now, WPIAL public schools playing Philly teams in PIAA playoffs? That's a different story, as you know.
Curious jungle cat
11:04
I hear TJ girls basketball coach finally decided to do the right thing for the kids and step down, any word on a new hire and where they are at in that process?? Winter sports are less than a month away!!
Mike White
11:05
Yes, Lisa Fairman apparently resigned a while ago. No need to get into it all, and with what her son has been accused of. But I think you'd have to agree it was best for everyone that she resign.
LeboKid
11:05
Mike: heading into the final week of 6A games, and Lebo, S.V. and Canon-Mac can still qualify for the playoffs. If you were a wagering man, which two teams would you put your money on and why? Quick aside: visited the WPIAL web page and was disappointed at the lack of recent information about playoff scenarios. If not for your article, we'd have nothing to go on. WPIAL had only last season's results up! Poor.
Mike White
11:09
That's really a tough question. I'm not trying to avoid it. I just don't feel strongly about any of the teams. That's how even 6A is. It's parity, brother. As for the WPIAL web page, they've never had playoff scenarios - and there's nothing wrong with that. Do you know how long it takes to do all the playoff scenarios for all teams? Believe me, it's not like it takes an hour. They don't have the staff for that. They just need to get it all done after season is over. Besides, if they did playoff scenarios for football, they'd get all kinds of complaints from people in other sports that they don't do it for them.
Wike Mhite
11:09
How do you feel about Burgettstown this year? Big win against Olsh, who hasn’t looked as good in past weeks. How do you think Single A seeding will look?
Mike White
11:12
Well, OLSH did lose to Burgettstown. But OLSH didn't have their QB Saturday against Bishop Canevin. That's a pretty big loss. As for Burgettstown, I think they'll be either No. 4 or No. 5. Bishop Canevin, Laurel and Greensburg C.C. I think have to be top three seeds. Next, you could go either South Side or Burgettstown. Plus, where does Mapletown fit in? I don't think Mapletown should be a top 4 seed, but they can't be eighth, either.
Chuck
11:12
Thanks for the chats. What is the difference between the economics of broadcasting games every Friday (i.e., on WPNT) and broadcasting the WPIAL finals? What makes one feasible, but not the other?
Mike White
11:16
First off, there are no rights fees for WPNT to broadcast Friday games. There are rights fees to pay for WPIAL title games. Then there are costs right off the top just to go into Heinz Field. Unions are involved, etc. And a station probably wouldn't want to do just one game. Because of those factors, the cost to do maybe four games from Heinz Field is so much more than a Friday night game at a high school. Plus, KDKA does the games at Heinz big. They treat it somewhat like a Steeler preseason game. Use a number of cameras, etc. It's nice what WPNT does in regular season, but their production is not as high level as KDKA for finals. Besides, if WPNT thought it would make sense and be worth it to do title games, don't you think they would?
Wpial Fan
11:16
Good morning Mike. I read the Post Gazette 5A playoff scenarios. Understanding that was tough but I think I got who will qualify with wins/losses. How do they determine 1-8? Do you have any thoughts on first round matchups? Who will PR Play?
Mike White
11:18
The WPIAL football committee seeds the teams. It's their opinions. There are so many different scenarios in 5A heading into this final week that it's virtually impossible to try to do matchups ahead of time. I do think that is Bethel Park wins this week, they are definitely the No. 1 seed. You might say Pine-Richland should be No. 2 seed, but here is something to think about? If Pine and Penn Hills win, Penn Hills gets the No. 1 from the Northeast Conference. So should Penn Hills be seeded ahead of Pine?
Pickles
11:18
hi mike back again I know you missed me i also know you’re a big hot dog guy you have to at least eat relish on your hot dog man don’t lie
Mike White
11:19
Disgusting. I don't relish that thought. Wooooo hoooooo. Seriously, relish is kind of like smashed up pickles. Like pickles, relish can ruin a hot dog.
1a fan
11:19
canevin takes down olsh in dominating fashion what happened there
Mike White
11:20
Ahhhh, first off, Canevin is very good. They are the defending WPIAL champ, you know? And most of their starters are back from last year when they hammered OLSH in title game. Plus, OLSH QB Nehemiah Azeem hurt his knee in warmups and didn't play. He's one of leading passers in WPIAL.
kiski
11:21
Oh my god cavaliers win I told you it was coming for weeks
Mike White
11:22
Get out of here with the "Oh my God" Cavaliers win. Cavaliers are 2-1 and Donovan Mitchell is off to a great start after the trade from Jazz. Cavs will be in playoffs.
Go quips
11:22
quips vs cv is that you’re game of the week
Mike White
11:22
Yes, but Belle Vernon vs. EF is really good, too.
Blowout City
11:22
Lots of bad beats in WPIAL/City League football these days. In Week 7, 42 of 63 games were decided by 24 points or more (67 percent). During Week 8, 38 of 62 games fell within the same margin (61.3 percent). Three of four games Saturday were decided by 40 points or more.

This is not a good look. And it doesn't appear it will change soon. We can talk all day about reasons. Maybe more individual schools need to look at going independent so they can hand-pick opponents.
Mike White
11:26
Nahhhh. A few things. It has been this way for a while now. Gap between haves and have nots has been growing. And the six classification thing probably made things worse. At least in non-conference matchups early in season, WPIAL tried to schedule games between teams that were likewise in strength. Can't do that in conference season. I don't think  more teams need to go independent. I personally feel that some of these really small schools need to merge. Seriously, there are too many small schools. Monaca merging with Center to form Central Valley was good for everyone, I believe. Good for academics, too. But schools don't want to do this. They say they will "lose their identity."
Najee by Nature
11:26
Big scalpers market for Quip/CV.  Shame they couldnt move it to a bigger stadium.  What's the reason?
Mike White
11:30
I explained it some in story two days ago. Link is below. Aliquippa doesn't want to move it. They had an agreement with Freedom before season. They considered moving it, but decided against it. Would've cost more rental fees. At Freedom, Aliquippa can use their own workers and security. Plus, they're selling 2,500 tickets. Looking at that stadium, plenty of room to stand also. It's high school regular season game. Sometimes, there is a big crowd. Deal with it.
Iron-man
11:30
I read the piece on the playoff picture. There are big games this week in 6A. Any thoughts or predictions on NA vs SV and CM vs Lebo? Thank you.
Mike White
11:31
I'll take NA, but Seneca win would not be a surprise at all. I have no idea about the other game. I go back and forth. I'll take Mt. Lebanon.
Bobby
11:31
when will the playoff brackets come out this year??? Will the post have a prediction before they drop the bracket thank you love this chats have a great day
Mike White
11:32
Brackets come out Saturday evening. Not like past years when they would come out Monday. Will try to have predicted brackets on our web site Saturday morning.
Johnny
11:32
Me and my friend geno need to be put on the post gazette our predictions turn out great every week
Mike White
11:32
Good for you.
Fresh Prince of O'Hare
11:32
Seems like more kids are reclassifying.  Good or bad?  Seems like grown men playing against kids in middle school.
Mike White
11:34
Yes, kids sometimes reclassify, but there are still PIAA rules that must be followed. For example, you aren't eligible to play any sports if you turn 19 before July 1 of your senior year. And you only get six seasons to play after sixth grade. In other words, say you wanted to repeat 8th grade. Most public schools won't allow you to do that. And if you do repeat anywhere, you can't play, or it counts as one of your six seasons. And then after start of 9th grade, you get four years of eligibility, whether you play all four or not.
Bmolla
11:34
What does Aliquippa  need to do to win what does Central Valley need to do ??
Mike White
11:35
Both teams defenses are really good. Seems like whoever runs the ball with more success will win. But I think a couple big pass plays might also be key.
Playoffs! playoffs!!
11:35
Any word on Azeem from OLSH if he’ll be playing this week, if not I see Cornell winning and getting a place in playoffs. What do you think?
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