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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.13.22
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Mike White
10:59
Happy basketball season. Football is now over and there's plenty to talk about in that sport. Basketball season starting to heat up. So let's get started. Questions, questions. Does anyone have questions?
Coach O
11:00
Doesn’t feel right having a high school sports chat without acknowledging the passing of legendary Beaver County broadcaster Bob Barrickman last week. Growing up there I still follow those teams closely and the best compliment I can pay to his love and enthusiasm for calling the games is you would never know if the two teams playing were 0-8 or 8-0. His passion was always there. I imagine you crossed paths with him over the years? RIP Bob.
Mike White
11:02
Certainly a sad, sad story. Bob was a great guy, a man with a love for high school sports in Beaver County - and high school sports in general. His voice was so unique. And to be honest, he did his job so long and so well that he was kind of part of the landscape of Beaver County high school sports. There is a little piece of Beaver County high school sports missing without him.
Hsfan
11:02
Saw that Debaba Tshiebwe has not played in Central’s first two games. Any idea why?
Mike White
11:02
Yes, I saw the same thing. Honestly, I have no idea why he didn't play. Maybe he's hurt?
Hsfan
11:03
How about Union beating Fairview 3 days after playing the state title game. Impressive group of athletes.
Mike White
11:04
Sure are. Three Union hoops starters were starters in football. Union has all 5 starters back in basketball from a team that made the WPIAL finals last year. Normally, that might make them the favorite, but not with what Imani Christian now has. Then again, Union beat Imani in last year's WPIAL semis. But a few other WPIAL football champs should be real good in basketball - like Aliquippa, Steel Valley and even Belle Vernon. We might seem some double takes on titles.
Cynical cindy
11:05
it’s largely the same schools in the state final every year for both football and basketball.  What are these schools doing different?  Is there something in the water at these places or are they cheating?
Mike White
11:08
Yes, somewhat true about same teams. Some of them are private or charter schools. Why do you think so many complain about Catholic-private-charter schools? But some of the same public schools, too, like Southern Columbia, Aliquippa and even Steel-High lately. Of course, we know the private-charter school story. Kids come from everywhere. But there were some new faces. Westinghouse, Union, Belle Vernon, Neumann-Goretti had never been there before.
Jason
11:08
Who wins this years st joes prep or last years Mt Lebanon from last year if they could play each other?
Mike White
11:10
I did not see the St. Joe's game this year. I was writing a story and then left. But I know St. Joe's was loaded. Mt. Lebanon was really good last year. Not a cut on them. But they got St. Joe's on a little bit of a down year. A young St. Joe's team. But that Lebo team was good enough that I think they would've been in the game this year.
Mark
11:10
what football teams from the eastern side of the state would you say are the best you’ve ever seen?  St joes looked unbeatable, it seems a little unfair
Mike White
11:11
That will take a little thought. A couple of those Central Bucks West teams under Mike Pettine were really, really good. A few of the St. Joe's teams have been really, really good. The Berwick team of 1992 with Ron Powlus was No. 1 in the country. On their own level, a couple of the recent Southern Columbia teams have been tremendous. Those are some of the best.
Ryan
11:11
Do you think South Allegheny is a sleeper in 4a this year?
Mike White
11:12
Without a doubt. Bryce Epps, senior, is one of WPIAL's best guards. I think Div. 2's should give him a look.
Second-hand Rose
11:12
Mike, what is status of teams that left WPIAL/City for football: Uniontown, Butler, Brownsville, Albert-Gallatin, Carrick. Will any of them rejoin next season?
Mike White
11:12
No, they won't. Realignments are on a two-year cycle. Next year is the second year of the two-year cycle. So they can't come in.
gaugustine
11:12
Hi Mike,  I saw the you wrote about the attendance being up for the state championship games last week.  Would you have the  attendance for each of the other games as well?  Thank you.
Mike White
11:13
What games are you asking about?
sflion
11:13
What do you think about the South Fayette girls hoops team? Back to back lop-sided wins and a victory over 6A #1 USC?
Mike White
11:13
They are very good. Definite favorite to win another 5A title and I think they will challenge for a state. Maddie Webber made our Fab 5 last year. She's going to VIllanova. Enough said.
Amos
11:13
How do you think Eric kasperowicz feels with pine winning?
Mike White
11:14
Fine. He knows a lot of those kids. His son is friends with some of them. He's happy for them. And he knows Jon LeDonne as well. Eric has moved on from Pine.
quip
11:14
I know they lost, but would you say this years quips team was the best in school history?  Considering their size and all he college prospects and the competition they faced
Mike White
11:17
I think you have to look at it from just the era when state championships started. That would be 1988. I might say this and the 1988 team are even. 1988 team lost in state final to Berwick and they had Sean Gilbert, USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year. People don't realize how good that team was. Besides Gilbert, who had long NFL career, three seniors went to Northwestern - Willie Lindsey, Greg Gill and Mark Hilliard. QB David Mike went to Maryland. A few non-seniors ended up Div. 1. If this team would've won, maybe I would've put them over 1988 team. But they didn't. So I'd put them on same level now probably.
The blur
11:18
Rank the top 5 teams in the wpial overall now that the season is over
Mike White
11:19
That's really tough. I'd say I might have to put Pine-Richland first. Either Aliquippa or North Allegheny second and the other third. Central Catholic fourth. I don't know fifth.
Question
11:19
I heard Bell Vernon made a tik tok video similar to the one Southern Colombia did that got them in hot water. The school district didn't allow Belle Vernon to go to Sunday's Steeler game that they had been invited to. Any news on that?
Mike White
11:21
Working on it. Yes, Belle Vernon doesn't look too good, either. Social media is the biggest problem facing kids these days. It's a horrible thing many times and kids aren't very smart with it. That's not cutting down kids. That's a fact. Honestly, they do stupid things and don't think. Then again, so do adults. There were adults involved in those signs about Westinghouse.
TM
11:21
Saw Peters Twp. vs Hampton this past Friday. I don't follow teams from the North Hills as much, being from the South Hills. But, I was really impressed with Hampton's big man--Liam Mignogna. He is 6'-8" and a wide body who could move, shoot and looked pretty athletic. Only a Junior, is he flying under the radar in the WPIAL or am I just not up to speed on him?
Mike White
11:22
He's OK. Certainly a wide body. Has some potential. Hopefully he has a nice season. Peter Kramer, junior guard who came from Shady Side, is the one who will open eyes this season.
Bball watcher
11:22
When are we gonna start talking about Allderdice? NA, Gateway, Imani.
Mike White
11:26
Oh, here we go. Season two weeks old and already someone is crying about overlooked. Not enough coverage. Get in line. Yeah, we only have Allderdice ranked No. 1 in the City, had them in a headline for their win over Imani last week and I've even said on this chat that they are as good as any WPIAL 6A team. And we had Allderdice in a headline again last week after beating Gateway. Oh, sorry. They're overlooked, though. We've talked about Imani and their big guy Alier Maluk. They create enough attention with all their transfers. North Allegheny is 0-3 and just lost by 28 points. What do you want me to say about them?
Rip van winkle
11:26
Ever get bored covering sports when it’s the same teams that win every year?  I mean pine Richland and southern Columbia lost 3 games and still end up winning in dominant fashion.  Any doubt Imhotep and Neumann goretti will win?
Mike White
11:27
I cover the games, no matter who is there. But yes, it is nice to see some new teams, like Union and Belle Vernon and Westinghouse.
Problems
11:27
Top 5 teams in the WPIAL across any classification including City League...Who you got?
Mike White
11:27
If you're asking football, I just did that above.
Mevin Lemons
11:29
If you had to put 5 basketball coaches up against the Monstars, which 5 coaches would have the best chance at winning?
Mike White
11:30
Ralph Blundo at New Castle, Carey White at Brashear, Odell Foster at Imani, Dom DeCicco at Thomas Jefferson and Bill Swan at Hempfield.
Bva
11:30
Belle Vernon had some great teams in the late 90’s with Scott McClintock, Erik gill, and nick kalcevic.  But Tyler Palko and West Allegheny got in their way.  You think this Belle Vernon team is better?  Would they best that west Allegheny team?
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