Prep Talk

Follow Prep Talk on Twitter

If you listen closely, you might be able to hear it: Prep Talk is tweeting.

Fans of Western New York high school sports will now be able to follow The Buffalo News' Prep Talk blog on Twitter -- our name is "bufnewspreptalk." In Web-land that's twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk.

We'll provide updates in high school sports news as well as links to coverage at buffalonews.com or here on the blog.

Part of our plan is to provide updates of high school football scores on Fridays and Saturdays -- so you'll be able to get all the scores on your phone. And if we're out at a game, we'll get our tweet on and let you know what's going on.

Please be patient. We just did our first tinyurl and it was very strange. It may take us a while to get the hang of it. 

---Keith McShea

Tune in (and type in) on Scrimmage Saturday

I'm resting up today for Scrimmage Saturday.

I've been analyzing the schedule of games you've helped us put together with hopes of getting to as many sites and seeing as many teams as I can. This is a first, so we'll see how it goes.

We also might try out some tricks that involve the World Wide Net Web, like posting videos from the road directly to our new PrepTalkTV page at YouTube. 

If you're out at a scrimmage, we want to get your take on the action, so be sure to type your way to our comments section.

Should be a fun day as we get a good look at several of this year's teams -- can you believe 2009 high school football is just a week away?

---Keith McShea

Live chat June 2

Tonight's live chat will be something of a Western New York High School SportsCenter.

As soon as I finish writing my story about the Section VI girls lacrosse championship tripleheader, I'll be online where the discussion will have plenty of fields to play on: in addition to those girls lacrosse finals, there are semifinals in boys lacrosse, quarterfinals in softball and the first game of the Georgetown Cup in baseball.

We should get started around 10:30 p.m. (because my story for Wednesday's paper has to be finished by then).

There should also be some baseball talk as the finals have been set - check out the link at the right for posts where you can make your picks and discuss the finals. There is also a place for softball and lacrosse comments as well.

If you won't be online for the chat, feel free to ask some questions you'd like to see addressed in the comments section.

Same policy for afterwards -- got a comment on what was discussed? Just add it below.

---Keith McShea

Live chat May 27

We'll have a live chat right here at 10 tonight, where we'll talk about anything and everything in high school sports.

There is surely to be a lot of bracket talk, and I'll provide live updates of scores we get called into the office. Check out the links at the right for posts where you can make your picks and discuss the tournaments for baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse.

If you won't be around for the chat, feel free to ask some questions you'd like to see addressed in the comments section.

Same policy for afterwards -- got a comment on what was discussed? Just add it below.

---Keith McShea

Wildly busy Wednesday

Off the top of my head, I can't remember a Wednesday that had this much meaningful high school action going on, especially for the spring.

Check out our high school scoreboard, which has results on the All High and Monsignor Martin track championships, the Section VI boys tennis championships, the Monsignor Martin softball and girls lacrosse championships, and a ton of other action in other sports including some top-ranked teams going at it in baseball and softball.

Whew. We'll have stories on the track meets in Thursday's paper along with some additional coverage here on the blog. There will also be a meaty-portioned High School Extra with the big events.

And if you saw any of Wednesday's action, let us know.

---Keith McShea

High school ... water polo? (and what a Web site!)

Here's a link to the story (and a photo) in which Williamsville North grad Josie Cordero was annouced as co-coach of the year in water polo for her region, which I mentioned in today's Prep Talk column.

A few google searches researching water polo in California brought me to the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section site, which is pretty mind-blowing for a high school sports governing body's Web site, especially compared to what we have here in New York.

Check out all the information in various sports, right down to PDFs of every league's standings and all-stars. WOW.

California is one of the best states in the nation for high school talent -- Southern California in particular is one of the top regions in the country -- so obviously there is intense participation and interest in high school sports. But it's a credit to the organization overseeing all of the action that such a comprehensive site pulls it all together.

---Keith McShea

Live chat tonight at 10

The quarterfinal matchups for the Section VI boys basketball tournament will be set after tomorrow night's action, which makes our weekly live chat at the perfect time.

Visit here Wednesday at 10 p.m. to discuss the prequarterfinal hoop games as well as anything else on your mind in high school sports.

Of course, any questions on high school sports are in bounds. If you can't make it, feel free to throw a question in the comments space below.

Here's a look at our previous live chats of Winter 2009: Feb. 18, Feb. 11, Feb. 4, Jan. 28, Jan. 21 and Jan. 14.  

---Keith McShea

Monday morning point guard: Hoops, wrestling, Facebook

It was a busy weekend for sports (and this blog), so here's what you need to know as you try to stiff-arm the Monday blahs:

* * *

With the Manhattan Cup playoffs and sectional basketball tournaments starting the next three days, we've got a post for every hoop fan.

Each post includes a schedule and a poll -- so if your team is playing basketball this week, you can vote for them.

Scroll down to check them out or take the shortcuts here:

For boys: Manhattan Cup, AA, A1, A2, B1, B2, C and D.  

For girls: AA, A1, A2, B1, B2, C and D.  

* * *

Our All-WNY 50th anniversary boys basketball series continued with our All-1970s team, which is being discussed on our usual follow-up "How'd we do?" blog.  

News Sports Reporter Mark Gaughan liked the depth of the 1970s team so much, he did some trash-talking by saying the third team from the 1970s could beat the first teams from the 1990s or 2000s.  

* * *

Most wrestling representatives for the state championships Friday and Saturday were determined at the Section VI meets this past weekend, but there are more to come in the next few days.

* * *

Prep Talk Nation has been officially recognized -- it's a Facebook group.

---Keith McShea

Live chat: Feb. 18

The upcoming Section VI and Monsignor Martin Association basketball tournaments will probably be among the topics that tip-off for discussion tonight at 10 p.m. As we do every week, we'll be talking high school sports for an hour or so.

The All-Western New York 50th anniversary series is moving along and providing plenty to talk about, while all of the winter sports have either started or are approaching their postseasons.

Of course, any questions on high school sports are in bounds. If you can't make it, feel free to throw a question in the comments space below.

Here's a look at our previous live chats of Winter 2009: Feb. 11, Feb. 4, Jan. 28, Jan. 21 and Jan. 14.  

---Keith McShea

Live chat Feb. 11: Live from Sunshine State

You can take the high school sports reporter out of Western New York ...

I'll be conducting our weekly live chat tonight from Daytona Beach, Fla., where I'll be in town through the weekend to cover the Daytona 500.

But as we do every week we'll be talking high school sports for an hour or so, starting at 10 p.m.

The All-Western New York 50th anniversary series is moving along and providing plenty to talk about, while all of the winter sports are approaching playoff time. Of course, any questions on high school sports are in bounds. If you can't make it, feel free to throw a question in the comments space below.

Here's a look at our previous live chats of Winter 2009: Feb. 4, Jan. 28, Jan. 21 and Jan. 14.  

---Keith McShea