My opinion on these state games

[BoKnowsSports]

The VHSL don’t give a rats’ tail about these kids nor the people who support the games. All these games should be played at a Super Site and NO schools should be playing in their home gym for the state quarterfinals or semis. MAKE VA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GREAT AGAIN!

NoVA- GMU/Robinson Secondary
Charlottesville/Shenandoah- JMU (Convocation Hall)
Southside/Lynchburg/Roanoke/NRV- Salem Civic Center
SWVA- Wise/Salem Civic Center
757- Churchland High School

 

[10iceiceice]

The VHSL don’t give a rats’ tail about these kids nor the people who support the games. All these games should be played at a Super Site and NO schools should be playing in their home gym for the state quarterfinals or semis. MAKE VA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GREAT AGAIN!

NoVA- GMU/Robinson Secondary
Charlottesville/Shenandoah- JMU (Convocation Hall)
Southside/Lynchburg/Roanoke/NRV- Salem Civic Center
SWVA- Wise/Salem Civic Center
757- Churchland High School

And or the new Henrico event center or Virginia state university event center. Very nice facilities.

 

[kwhs95fan]

I wish they'd go back to both the semifinals and finals at the Siegel Center too. It made for a special week. When my dad was living, he and I would take off the entire week of work and attend every game from Tuesday through Saturday. He passed away in 2011, and for several years I would continue to go, but the way it's setup now, I don't find it enjoyable and would rather just watch on NFHS. In fact, I haven't been to a state playoff game at the Siegel Center since Mac Mclung and Gate City were there in 2018.... In closing, whether it was in Richmond or Lynchburg, it used to be a special week. Now they spread it out and it's almost like it's a nuisance for the VHSL. Heck, look how fast they try to get teams to stop celebrating, just so they can hand out medals and trophies and get teams off the floor. Rant over lol

 

[m-squared]

I agree with neutral sites. Did playing the semis and finals change when they went to 6 classifications? Going to 6 classifications resulted in a lot more games. There are 2 boys and 2 girls games in each classification in the semis - that's 4 games per classification. With 6 classifications that's 24 games in the semis now. If you play 4 a day at the Segal Center that would take 6 days. The greater number of games probably meant it costs too much and takes too long to play at one site. The college season isn't over so college venues probably aren't available. Maybe an alternative for the quarterfinals and semifinals would be neutral sites at high schools that aren't playing. When they first went to quarterfinals (2 teams per region advance to states) they all played at neutral sites. Churchland played in the semis, would you send them someplace else and use their gym? I haven't been in it in a while but Culpeper Jr High School has a huge gym that is easily large enough to host a double header. Have a good one!

 

[SFUWO]

The VHSL don’t give a rats’ tail about these kids nor the people who support the games. All these games should be played at a Super Site and NO schools should be playing in their home gym for the state quarterfinals or semis. MAKE VA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GREAT AGAIN!

NoVA- GMU/Robinson Secondary
Charlottesville/Shenandoah- JMU (Convocation Hall)
Southside/Lynchburg/Roanoke/NRV- Salem Civic Center
SWVA- Wise/Salem Civic Center
757- Churchland High School

Roanoke College has been used recently as well

 

[knightfan64]

Im gonna go out on a limb and say after Tuesday’s incidents, that some of the “viral movements” and bad press the VHSL is going through would have been prevented. Maybe I’m mistaken on that one but at the very least, something like the Va High incident could be prevented. Maybe not the Hopewell incident but I do thing being an opponent on the road in that type of environment can exacerbate emotions

 

[pizzzzza]

I concur!

In addition to all the comments already made - for me personally - it was always a treat to see other teams play that I never saw play during the regular season as a neutral fan.

Home court advantage is not fair when it comes to state tournament play.

But I realize it's all about the $$$

 

[GoBlue2109]

Have to disagree with this. I get football is its own different animal but nothing beats actual home environments in the playoffs. If you don't want to travel then WIN. Neutral is great for the championship round but everything before should be true homes games in these school's communities which is what it's all about. Neutral site are too sterile and usually take away from the environment for me.

 

[blackknight_pride]

A couple of years ago they would have state quarterfinals and semifinals “at” the higher seed, but the gym could not be their home gym. Whenever Albemarle or Western would get a “home” quarterfinal game they would play at Monticello. East Rockingham would play at Spotswood, John Marshall at Huguenot, so on and so forth. This may not entirely fix the problem but it is better optics than having a straight up home game in state games-still a great high School environment that the home community can easily get to. The other problem is the refs-not their fault cause there aren’t enough of them but both teams should ideally never seen the refs before for state games. Clean slate for everyone.

While I would change the fact that teams get home games in State quarters-the most egregious thing is state SEMIFINAL games at home sites. That’s too far. Makes seeding so important and the seeding system in regionals is certainly flawed.

 

[BoKnowsSports]

Have to disagree with this. I get football is its own different animal but nothing beats actual home environments in the playoffs. If you don't want to travel then WIN. Neutral is great for the championship round but everything before should be true homes games in these school's communities which is what it's all about. Neutral site are too sterile and usually take away from the environment for me.

I respect it and I agree with the winning aspect of it. You’re a blood 804 guy so you know how crazy those old Central Region playoff games were at Siegel Center. Shoot Highland Springs had over 5000 fans by themselves at the Stu for the 2007 state championship game. Can still have that home court advantage at neutral sites.

You’re a reasonable man. You know it makes zero sense to have two games at a high school gym and after the first game, the gym is cleared only to buy another ticket, stand in line, for the next game.

The VHSL totally robbed the love of the game out of it for us fans. It’s all about $$$.

 

[Phoebus Fan]

I respect it and I agree with the winning aspect of it. You’re a blood 804 guy so you know how crazy those old Central Region playoff games were at Siegel Center. Shoot Highland Springs had over 5000 fans by themselves at the Stu for the 2007 state championship game. Can still have that home court advantage at neutral sites.

You’re a reasonable man. You know it makes zero sense to have two games at a high school gym and after the first game, the gym is cleared only to buy another ticket, stand in line, for the next game.

The VHSL totally robbed the love of the game out of it for us fans. It’s all about $$$.

Wait what??? 😳😳😳 they clear out the gym and make people stand in line for the next game??? What if you get there early for second game and come in like beginning of 4th quarter?

 

[BoKnowsSports]

Wait what??? 😳😳😳 they clear out the gym and make people stand in line for the next game??? What if you get there early for second game and come in like beginning of 4th quarter?

Bro last year Hampton’s girls played Monacan and Hampton’s boys played Varina at Heritage in Newport News. Had to buy the tickets separately and clear the gym after the ladies played. Line was wrapped around the building and most missed the 1st and half of the 2nd quarters if they didn’t have a coaching pass or knew somebody up front to skip the line 🤣

 

[GoBlue2109]

I respect it and I agree with the winning aspect of it. You’re a blood 804 guy so you know how crazy those old Central Region playoff games were at Siegel Center. Shoot Highland Springs had over 5000 fans by themselves at the Stu for the 2007 state championship game. Can still have that home court advantage at neutral sites.

You’re a reasonable man. You know it makes zero sense to have two games at a high school gym and after the first game, the gym is cleared only to buy another ticket, stand in line, for the next game.

The VHSL totally robbed the love of the game out of it for us fans. It’s all about $$$.

Now I had no idea they did that. That's 100% ridiculous. I'm not against using a bigger gym that's local. Like if Varina had to host a game at HSHS that would still be ok to me.

Oh yea those Siegel Center days from 2006-2012 were SPECIAL.

 

[OCBoy]

I agree with neutral sites. Did playing the semis and finals change when they went to 6 classifications? Going to 6 classifications resulted in a lot more games. There are 2 boys and 2 girls games in each classification in the semis - that's 4 games per classification. With 6 classifications that's 24 games in the semis now. If you play 4 a day at the Segal Center that would take 6 days. The greater number of games probably meant it costs too much and takes too long to play at one site. The college season isn't over so college venues probably aren't available. Maybe an alternative for the quarterfinals and semifinals would be neutral sites at high schools that aren't playing. When they first went to quarterfinals (2 teams per region advance to states) they all played at neutral sites. Churchland played in the semis, would you send them someplace else and use their gym? I haven't been in it in a while but Culpeper Jr High School has a huge gym that is easily large enough to host a double header. Have a good one!

Louisa hosted Churchland at Culpeper middle not long ago. They’ve done some updating in there with a huge mural and it’s always used for the Culpeper/Eastern View matchup.

 

[Phoebus Fan]

Bro last year Hampton’s girls played Monacan and Hampton’s boys played Varina at Heritage in Newport News. Had to buy the tickets separately and clear the gym after the ladies played. Line was wrapped around the building and most missed the 1st and half of the 2nd quarters if they didn’t have a coaching pass or knew somebody up front to skip the line 🤣

Yeah that’s insane. Imagine being a Hampton family with a kid on both the girls and boys team.

 

[BoKnowsSports]

Yeah that’s insane. Imagine being a Hampton family with a kid on both the girls and boys team.

All facts. I had a coaches pass but my pops is limited in his mobility. Had to walk all the way out, just to go back in. It’s nuts but the VHSL don’t care though.

 

[SFUWO]

Have to disagree with this. I get football is its own different animal but nothing beats actual home environments in the playoffs. If you don't want to travel then WIN. Neutral is great for the championship round but everything before should be true homes games in these school's communities which is what it's all about. Neutral site are too sterile and usually take away from the environment for me.

The environment was awesome for the Salem girls last night. Better than some recent football playoff games.

 

[BoKnowsSports]

The environment was awesome for the Salem girls last night. Better than some recent football playoff games.

Damnnnn! Y’all must have a squad beating Manor! Looking forward to watching yall at the Siegel Center on Friday.

 

[GoBlue2109]

The environment was awesome for the Salem girls last night. Better than some recent football playoff games.

I thought the environment at Handly was great last night against Varina too. Packed crowd. Hostile environment but Varina’s championship DNA pulled through.

 

[DitkaXX]

Damnnnn! Y’all must have a squad beating Manor! Looking forward to watching yall at the Siegel Center on Friday.

Top players are Juniors too.

 

[DitkaXX]

Have to disagree with this. I get football is its own different animal but nothing beats actual home environments in the playoffs. If you don't want to travel then WIN. Neutral is great for the championship round but everything before should be true homes games in these school's communities which is what it's all about. Neutral site are too sterile and usually take away from the environment for me.

My only problem with this is that they should be a criteria for hosting (power points or something). I don't like just alternating years like Class 3 did with 1 loss Northside playing at Spotswood.