RVa Sports Network Basketball Next Year will look somewhat different!
THE FUTURE: VHSL Approves Region Alignment for 2023--2027
After weeks of proposals, objections, and meetings, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Executive Committee has officially approved the region alignment for its six classifications for the period from July, 2023 to June, 2027.
Please note that the League does make some adjustments to the alignment at the midway point (the summer of 2025) to account for changes in school enrollments, the opening of new schools, consolidation of current schools, etc.
In this piece, we will discuss each region that has a Metro RVA team, how it has changed, and a little information on schools that will be new to our area once postseason play begins.
New teams will be both bold and italicized. All Metro RVA teams will be in bold only unless they have moved regions, then they will be both as well.
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CLASS 5, REGION C: (15 Teams)
Albemarle, Clover Hill, Douglas Freeman, Franklin County, Hermitage, J.R. Tucker, James River, L.C. Bird, Louisa, Matoaca, Midlothian, Mills Godwin, Patrick Henry-Roanoke, Prince George, William Fleming
ANALYSIS: The region, by far, has the biggest changes, even with three Henrico powerhouses headed to Class 6. A twelve-team region grows to fifteen as Deep Run, Glen Allen, Highland Springs and Meadowbrook depart, Matoaca returns to Class 5 after two seasons in Class 4 (and petitioning the VHSL to move up) and James River comes down from Class 6. This region will also no longer be exclusive to Richmond area teams, as Albemarle enters from the Charlottesville area, while Franklin County of Rocky Mount, Louisa, Patrick Henry-Roanoke and William Fleming all enter.
Logistically, this region just became a nightmare. But, to the VHSL's defense, it would be even more of a burden for the western schools to join any other region in Class 5, having either to go to Tidewater or Northern Virginia. It's also now the largest region in Class 5 with 15 teams (Class 5, Region A is next with 14, Region D only has 9).
Franklin County was a longtime member of Class 6, sharing both a region, and a conference back in their four-year tenure, with the likes of Cosby, Thomas Dale and James River. They're used to coming east for playoff action. So is Patrick Henry-Roanoke, who briefly played in the old Conference 16, which included Albemarle, Atlee, and our Patrick Henry (Ashland). Louisa, of course, plays some area schools in sports already and, geographically, is just a little further out than, say, Amelia, Powhatan, or Caroline. The Lions will automatically become a force in football in the region.
The unknown is William Fleming, the other Roanoke City high school (with PH-Roanoke). The Colonels have not made the football postseason since 2014, and are currently 1-4 this season. Boys basketball last won a state title in 2007.
Posted by robwitham at 2:12 PM
