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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.6.17
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Mike White
11:58
One day later than normal, but store is now open. Chat was pushed back a day. Lots we can talk about. State finals football. Hoops starting. Let's get to it. I just turned on the "open" sign.
Jamey
11:59
I can't believe that Robert Kennedy is not being looked at by Pitt, this kid is a beast a little undersize but make plays as DB someone will be getting a good player, Pitt always trying to go south unless your a lineman we have talent in the WPIAL
Mike White
12:00
Just because you make plays and are an excellent high school player doesn't mean you are a major-college recruit. No knock on Kennedy. He has been terrific. I'm sure Pitt knows about him. If they really wanted him, they would recruit him.
johnnyboy
12:00
I know it is early but who do you see being the top contenders for 6A football next season?
Mike White
12:02
Bigger question is who will be in 6A? Original enrollment cutoffs from PIAA shows only nine teams in WPIAL 6A next year. Of course, a few teams could choose to play up, but I say that's unlikely. And it will be usual suspects. No way Pine nearly as good but still will be one of top teams. Should be strong on lines, Tyler King back at LB and Meckler at DB. But not having No. 15 will make a huge difference. Pine will be good, but not anything like this year. Central played a lot of young players. Who will be QB? NA will always be NA.
Leopard Pride
12:02
How does Pr fare against St Joe's this weekend?
Mike White
12:05
Long-awaited game is finally here. Should be an excellent one. St. Joe's, by far, will be best team Pine faces. I don't think this St. Joe's team is as good as last year or the 2014 team that beat Pine. Doesn't have same star power. D'Andre Swift crushed Pine in 2014 and Central last year. No one like him this year. Don't get me wrong. St. Joe's still really good. Young in positions. I think Pine will score good amount of points again. I'm sure some wonder about St. Joe's defense after giving up 49 to Coatesville again. Defensive play on both sides is key to game. Also key will be Pine pass protection for St. Joe's. My pick: Pine-RIchland.
Brad W.
12:05
Is New Castle one of the favorites for BB in 4A. What about 3A?
Mike White
12:07
New Castle doesn't have much experience back. Marcus Hooker might be only returning starter. But they are still top 2 or 3 in 4A. Why? Because New Castle is New Castle and Ralph Blundo is still coach. That makes them one of the top teams, although far from a great team. You know a couple things. They will press. They will play hard.
12:10
As far as 3A, I think Lincoln Park might be team to beat again, even without Nelly Cummings. Keeno Holmes, Melonja back. Quips should be pretty good. Better than last year. Is Shady Side maybe a sleeper? Washington was good last year but lost so much. North Catholic won't be as good
Rick
12:10
Does Jeannette win 1A?
Mike White
12:11
That ones a tough call. Homer-Center has size. But Jeannette has Robert Kennedy. I think it's close but I'll go with the Jayhawks. Have to keep turnovers to a minimum. Defense was impressive against Farrell. That showed me something.
Transfer?
12:11
Heard anything about a basketball transfer to NA Boys from Cinci Moeller this year?
Mike White
12:12
Yep. 6-5 kid. Heard decent. Moeller has very good program. He was on team but looking at stats wasn't a major factor. That doesn't mean he doesn't have talent because Moeller has some talent usually every year.
12:14
A vacation?? Come on Quiptown. As for set site, yes they do. You can't decide where a state championship game is played a week before it happens. Sure it might be more convenient for fans. But there is a lot more involved. PCN televises all games. I don't think they would be too happy about having games everywhere. Play them all at one site. That's the best thing. Stop complaining.
John
12:14
Rams hoops had a good senior class last year, when Phil and Kristophic are don't with Football will they be the team to beat in 6A still?
Mike White
12:16
Yes, they will be our No. 1 team. Stories and rankings come out tomorrow and Friday. I expect Kristofic to be a handful this year. Phil is just Phil. Not sure when Phil will come back to basketball. They play a section game last Friday. In the summer and earlier this fall, he mentioned to me that he might wait until after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and then play hoops. That's one of the first few days in January.
Brad W.
12:16
Has there been any talk yet about changing playoff seeding or number of teams (i.e. 3A BVC) in each class or is it still to early for football?
Mike White
12:19
Can't really say anything until you know the number of teams in every class. Today was deadline for schools to let PIAA know if they are playing "up" in class. WPIAL strategic planning will meet next week, look at numbers in all sports and then start to come up with recommendations to how many conferences (sections) will be in each class in each sport. Also playoff formats. Steering committees for each fall sport will meet in January. They will be given parameters and they will decide the conference make-ups. But the steering committees do not decide playoff formats. WPIAL strategic planning committee and board of directors decides that.
But if there are only nine teams in 6A football. Something would likely change. Maybe only top four teams go to playoffs?? But because there are only nine, would WPIAL go in a subregional in 6A??? Many questions that will be answered in the next month.
Quiptown22
12:20
Stop complaining!!  Yeah thanks Mike.  I guess if its good for you and PCN then great.  Who cares if parents and family members can't go to the game and watch their kids play.  Keep making money off high school kids!!
Mike White
12:23
Come on, I think every state in the country has sites set for state championship games before the season starts.
Ralph
12:23
How’s allderdices basketball team looking this year?
Mike White
12:24
Obviously, haven't seen them yet. Season starts Friday. But I expect Dice to be one of the top 6A teams in the West.
WPIAL Lifer
12:24
Any pre-Dec. 15th intelligence on schools that will choose to "play up" for the next 2 yrs? Specifically, Quippa football-basketball, Bvr Falls hoops, and either Greensburg CC or Canevin girls hoops who both fell into 1A.
Mike White
12:24
Should know more tomorrow
DJ
12:25
Is there any chance in the future that the PIAA starts basketball season earlier? Hundreds of schools could have began playing last weekend but have to wait because 24 schools in the state were still playing football.
Mike White
12:26
Doubt it. They've been starting around this time for a while now. It's a little better because they did take a week out of football. A number of years, the state finals in football would've been next week. I remember they were Dec. 18 once. Only a few other states in country were still playing football then and they were all warm weather states.
Ralph
12:27
Any wpial/ city players to watch out for this hoop season ?
Mike White
12:29
In City, mentioned Allderdice little earlier. Jackson Blaufield Bobby Clifford back with a few others. Strothers at Obama led City in scoring last year. Big kid back at Westinghouse. Do you really want me to mention all the players in WPIAL? Well, Mars' Robby Carmody is finally a senior. Notre Dame recruit. Butler sophomore Ethan Morton is the next big-time recruit from WPIAL. He's a stud. Already offers from Pitt, Duquesne, Ohio State, Wisconsin and others. 6-5 point guard.
Rick
12:35
Do you ever think the WPIAL will go back to four classification and drop out of the PIAA.  I think six classifications has created too many problems.
Mike White
12:35
Nope. No chance of dropping out of PIAA. And I don't mind six classes.
WPIAL Lifer
12:36
Just curious: how long is WPIAL contracted at RMU for 1A & 2A football title games? And also, what's your gut feeling on 3A playoff format and title game approach for next yr? Crystal ball-ism...!
Mike White
12:37
I don't know about contrat with Robert Morris. And you can never predict what WPIAL will do. But there has to be changes next year based on a lot of things. WPIAL gotten enough heat about 3A playoffs. I think it will change.
Old School
12:37
Your timing of the story  of PR defense was good, they played well last week. How do you see them matching up against St Joe's Prep- a better offense than Manheim
Mike White
12:38
St. Joe's a much, much better offense. St. Joe's a much better team. As I said before, defenses on both sides will be keys to the game. Especially St. Joe's front on defense and secondary.
Guest
12:39
Pizza Boy Brewing and Pine vs. St Joes makes for a nice trip to Hershey, just wish it wasn't going to be so cold.  Beyond Jurkovec, I read PIne has been dealing with illness, are they going to be healthy by game time?
Mike White
12:40
I have no idea. I  don't handle Pine's meds. Yes they had kids sick. At least one has mono. But no mono or Lyme disease for Phil. He has been feeling better. That's good news for them.
Old School
12:42
Mike, is that an "Old school" answer, the 6A game will be won in the trenches and by defense ?
Mike White
12:43
I know it's cliche but true. I think whatever defense plays better will win. I think both teams will score. And of course, a turnover or two could make all the difference. It sounds simple, but it's true.
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