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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.14.23
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Mike White
11:04
OK, we're under way. Many things to talk about. Two WPIAL championships Saturday. Eight semis Friday. And there's the crazy West Mifflin school board situation. So the store is now open for questions.
HsFan
11:04
read on Maxpreps that Lincoln Park has a new transfer guard. Has he been ruled eligible?
Mike White
11:04
I've heard they have a transfer from somewhere, but don't know anything about him.
Jeff
11:04
5 A - Peters twp looks unbeatable Can Pine Richland knock them off ?
Mike White
11:05
No. Pine-Richland has no chance. Pine shouldn't show up. Of course, Pine has a chance. A key will be whether Pine will be able to run the ball and that won't be easy. I think I line Peters Township.
Jeff
11:05
4 A  You know I picked McKeesport to r un the table Montour looks pretty good and I think the winner of this game takes the title ...........who do you like ? Quips got a break with Mars and had their hands full with Latrobe .........Sorry Quips your team is not winning it !
Mike White
11:07
Montour and McKeesport is a great matchup. Both are playing really well. Montour apparently looked really good against TJ. McKeesport has played well all year. I think it's a tossup. I'll probably take Montour. And don't sell Mars short. Do you think many thought Latrobe would give Aliquippa such a problem? Mars is no slouch. Aliquippa might end up winning the thing again, but just my opinion, that this Quips team isn't quite as good as the past few.
Jeff
11:07
3 A it looks like Belle Vernon - Avonworth rematch .........Does EF oe EA stand a chance of upsetting this bracket ?
Mike White
11:08
No, EF and EA have no chance. Avonworth should just play Belle Vernon Friday and skip the semis. C'mon, man. Why do people keep asking "does this team have a chance?"
JT
11:08
Which freshman boy will have the biggest impact in WPIAL basketball this year?
Mike White
11:09
The one who scores lot of points.
Football nutz
11:09
A WR that had over 200 yds receiving and 5 TDs against TJ doesn’t get athlete of the week? Cmon Mike
Mike White
11:10
You're talking about Alston from Montour. Yes, big game. But the Kuban we picked from Avonworth is pretty darn good. Runs for more than 100 yards. Team's leading receiver. Excellent DB. Don't sell him short.
4A Basketball
11:10
4A seems loaded as always.  With Lincoln Park leading the way.  Hampton, Uniontown, Beaver and Montour seem next in line.  Thoughts on a surprise team in 4A, Knoch, North, Belle Vernon?
Mike White
11:12
OK, just to clarify, you're talking hoops. Lincoln Park definitely No. 1. But 4A is the best class in WPIAL, as far as depth of quality teams. A sleeper? Don't forget Highlands. North Catholic will still be good, too.
Jeff
11:12
1 A - this bracket is loaded and any of the four teams can win it ...................Who do you like ? Gimme so love for Clairton on a roll  ! Although SS Beaver - Canevin - Fort Cherry all look strong
Mike White
11:13
We've written about Clairton's run. Not that big of a surprise. Bears are always good. They started 0-2 but didn't have all of their players. Some of the Bears were just hibernating. Now they've all come out. Strong semifinal field. I'd maybe take Fort Cherry and South Side.
ThePineGrind
11:14
Mike, I can understand classification rotations playing at TheAc, but having a 5A Championship at Noon on a Saturday is an absolute joke and so is choosing Norwin as the venue. These coaches and players work very hard to play on a big stage, in prime time - Noon in Norwin ain't it. Maybe the WPIAL can call it "The road to Noon in Norwin". So many other better venues (Upper St Clair, Lebo, Pine, South Stadium, Bethel, NA, North Hills, etc.). The two biggest classifications in the biggest communities playing at Norwin at Noon, the WPIAL whiffed again. Why does the host, Norwin need 6 hours between games? 5A could have played at 2pm. Maybe Pine and Peters can have their JV teams play at 6am.
Mike White
11:17
I don't disagree with you at all. I don't like the noon start time, either. But what about morning games and afternoon games all those years at Heinz, Three Rivers, Acrisure. Or even Pitt Stadium years ago. Did you complain about them? It's the championship!!!!! Who cares if you play it on a Saturday. Districts across the state have championships on a Saturday. As for Norwin ... First off, it's a really nice stadium. Big enough for crowds. Plenty of parking. But I know, it's the location. Not great for two teams like Central and NA to have to go to Norwin.
11:22
But to finish the point about Norwin to ThePineGrind. You say why not, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon, Pine, Bethel, North Allegheny, North Hills. No way Mt. Lebanon. Can't believe school like that still has the press box they have. Ridiculous. And you can't really book Pine or NA ahead of time because they might have a team in the finals. Norwin's stadium is as nice as most of them, but it's just the location. Plus, you don't know if any other schools bid to host the championships. As for the time, noon isn't bad. And you should have six hours in between games. Many times nowadays a high school game lasts 2 1/2 to 2:45. And with media timeouts, it probably will. So if you start a game at noon and it doesn't end until 2:45, by the time you give out awards and clear the field, it's probably 3:15. Players might not get out of their locker rooms until 3:30 or 3:45. If you were playing second game at 5, that's not enough time to get next teams in. There should be a six-hour difference in between games.
Guru
11:22
Last week you guys had articles previewing the quarterfinals of football playoffs that were as big as the previews for Wpial soccer championships. This week previews for semifinal football but nothing…I repeat nothing for the state semifinals taking place tonight in soccer. I can guarantee that there will be nobody on site for any soccer games tonight but will have every football game covered this Friday in person. Do better for all sports not just football and your favorite sport basketball.
Mike White
11:25
Yes, we did do those football stories. And we will have previews of semifinals this week. But we make our decisions sometimes on stories, based on what has more interest. This is nothing against soccer or the players or teams. But I'm sorry, there isn't anywhere near the amount of interest in soccer as football. That's obvious. That's why we do a lot more on football. But we do feature stories on soccer throughout the season, have roundups, run leading goal scorers, cover championships.  But I know ... that's not enough for you.
Sam Bloom
11:25
Why does the post gazzette refuse to acknowledge Allderdice as the best basketball team in the Northeast? Best coach in Western PA as well, yet I haven't heard a peep.
Mike White
11:27
What is it with you? This is like the fourth week in a row you've come on this chat with this ridiculousness. Please stop. Are you just trying to be funny? If so, you're not. Take your act on the road somewhere else. It's getting old.
BasketballFan
11:27
Who is your sleeper in 5A for hoops????
Mike White
11:27
Chartiers Valley.
Uncalled for
11:27
Hi Mike, I thought it was incredibly distasteful what Don Rebel of the Trib said about you on his column. I appreciate you being the bigger man and not responding. Keep up the good work! I’ve read all your articles dating back to 2017.
Mike White
11:28
I have no idea what you're even talking about.
Tw
11:28
Most bizarre sports story of the century is the School Board Member at West Mifflin sharing “Wildcat” with Elizabeth Forward……turnover decided the contest but have no idea how the people at WM don’t run this clown out of town!
Mike White
11:31
It certainly is bizarre. And West Mifflin superintendent sent letter to parents yesterday saying "an exhaustive investigation has been conducted ... and it appears that the facts has gathered correlate with the accusations made." So it looks like the super pretty much said the Yuhas guy is lying. I'm not going to give my opinion on Yuhas claims but it appears there is evidence everywhere against him. Question is, what can - or what will - West Mifflin do?
11:36
But the West Mifflin situation is not the craziest ever I wrote about. Similar situation years ago. In 2006, Shenango had a good QB Rocco Colavecchia. They were playing Mars. Unbelievably, Colavecchia's dad went to Mars practice, said he was a coach from Ohio U scouting one of Mars' players. Well, the dad actually filmed Mars' defensive practice. He gave the film to his son, who gave it to Shenango coach. But Shenango coach didn't watch it. The dad admitted to me what he did and we wrote a story. That's worse than this West Mifflin board member. Here's the story years ago: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2006/09/19/Pl...
Stang gang
11:36
Mannnnnnn this new streaming stuff is awful. The wpial needs to figure it out, this is not sustainable.
Mike White
11:36
I don't know. I'm not home on Friday nights, but I've heard people are not happey.
Bob S
11:36
In your opinion, do you think that Johnson will be eligible to play for Moon in the postseason?  Seems like poor planning to transfer back the week of tryouts.  In the article you wrote, it mentioned that Moon's coach saw Johnson playing with other Moon players this summer.  Is that allowed if he wasn't enrolled?
Mike White
11:38
The Moon coach said he saw Johnson play with a few Moon players on an AAU team. Yes, that's allowed, if it wasn't the school team. I don't know if Johnson will be eligible for postseason. His dad gave legitimate reasons for why family moved back. I won't predict what WPIAL will rule. You just never know.
Titan Spy Agency
11:38
Doesn't the West Mifflin Board Member who was part of the local "Spygate" have a son that goes to Central Catholic (who is actually a Pitt recruit).  Seems like this guy has way better things to do then go to a random high school practice on a Wednesday afternoon.
Mike White
11:38
That's his nephew, Ty Yuhas.
40stripes
11:38
Hi Mike.  Very nice article on Braylon Thomas, the Union QB.  Fine young man and a very nice athlete.  D2-D3, I'm sure, if he chooses to play football at the collegiate level, but some school will get a fine athlete.  I see him as WR and punt/kick returner.
Mike White
11:41
Well, Union coach Kim Niedbala said Pitt and some MAC schools have been in and shown interest. Apparently, colleges are waiting to see if he gets a few things taken care of academically. Excellent athlete. Even coach Niedbala said he won't be a QB at next level. Will probably be receiver. We shall see. Questionable where he will be next year. I guess depends on some academic things.
GH
11:41
First Michigan, now West Mifflin. What school will be next to steal signs from another team?
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