VHSL Tournament Format -- Like / Dislike ?

[highschoolsportscraze]

A lot of discussion this winter on VHSL basketball Tournament format. Lose the right games you continue to advance, lose the wrong game and your eliminated from playoffs -- ask Oscar Smith, VA PREPS #1 all year. Most states have a "one and done' "survive and advance" format.

Winning a North Region title requires an extra game over winning a South Region title. You can lose a district tournament, a regional tournament and still qualify for state tournament. You can lose two games in a regional tournament and still make the state tournament.

I am not sure how district realignment will shake out for basketball postseason but I would like to see a tournament format that rewards winners, survive and advance like most other states. My preferred format: Regular season district champions and district tournament champions (or regular season second place in event of dual winner) play in a 16 team tournament. First round and quarterfinals at the home school's gym.

Final four gets played at a super site -- survive and advance. would love to hear more thoughts

 

[Valley Man]

My understanding is starting next season the old format will be resurrected. A regional champion will earn the right to host the state quarter final on a neutral floor within proximity of that school. The regional runner up will travel to a region champ. I think if this is correct the problem of losing and advancing will only pertain to the runner up. The regional championship will now mean something (you don't have to travel).

 

[pawfan]

A lot of discussion this winter on VHSL basketball Tournament format. Lose the right games you continue to advance, lose the wrong game and your eliminated from playoffs -- ask Oscar Smith, VA PREPS #1 all year. Most states have a "one and done' "survive and advance" format.

Winning a North Region title requires an extra game over winning a South Region title. You can lose a district tournament, a regional tournament and still qualify for state tournament. You can lose two games in a regional tournament and still make the state tournament.

I am not sure how district realignment will shake out for basketball postseason but I would like to see a tournament format that rewards winners, survive and advance like most other states. My preferred format: Regular season district champions and district tournament champions (or regular season second place in event of dual winner) play in a 16 team tournament. First round and quarterfinals at the home school's gym.

Final four gets played at a super site -- survive and advance. would love to hear more thoughts

I'm with you and Billy Haun- the new Director of the Virginia High School League. Lose and you are done. And while we're at it, let's reduce the number of classifications from 6 to 4.

 

[Valley Man]

I agree with PawFan!!!

And here are some more tidbits .. so 7 of the 24 teams to play in the state final should not have even been there

3 State Champs lost in the Regional Semis but won consolation
-Colonial Forge 6A Girls
-Broadway 3A Girls
-Central Wise 2 A Grils

1 State Champ lost in Regional Semis and LOST consolation game
-IC Norcom 3A Boys

3 State Runner-Ups lost in Regional Semis but won consolation
-CD Hylton 6A Boys
-Oakton 6A Boys
-Amelia 2A Boys

 

[Keith_Stone33]

I don't have too much of an issue with the current format, but I don't like the predetermined sites for the regional championship games. Like 2 teams within 30 minutes of each other driving 3 hours to go play each other (in 1A this year).

I would prefer a regular season district champ and a tournament district champ (or tourney runner-up if the champ is the same) advancing to postseason play, then having a regional champ and runner up advance to the state tournament, like the old format.

Agree with pawfan on decreasing the number of classifications. I think a 4A system would be best. If they want to keep football at 6 I would be okay with it, but the rest of the sports could really stand to go to 4 or even back to 3

 

[highschoolsportscraze]

I agree with PawFan!!!

And here are some more tidbits .. so 7 of the 24 teams to play in the state final should not have even been there

3 State Champs lost in the Regional Semis but won consolation
-Colonial Forge 6A Girls
-Broadway 3A Girls
-Central Wise 2 A Grils

1 State Champ lost in Regional Semis and LOST consolation game
-IC Norcom 3A Boys

3 State Runner-Ups lost in Regional Semis but won consolation
-CD Hylton 6A Boys
-Oakton 6A Boys
-Amelia 2A Boys

Hylton actually lost the consolation game as well.

 

[otnorot]

They keep changing the format every year but the problem is the number of classes not the format. At least let teams play up in a higher class like they used to. Spreading the best teams across four classes kills a lot of the interest.

I will say that playing anything from regional semis onward in a "higher seed" gym is pretty bush league to me, but most fanbases don't travel that well so maybe you're better off from a financial standpoint at least assuring that one team will bring a crowd. Can't imagine a 6A state quarterfinal at Woodson or Madison though.

 

[thegift72]

I agree with many of the thoughts being expressed on what changes the VHSL needs to adopt for basketball. One thing that won't change and we all need to accept it is the current format will not go back to 3A or 4A format. The product is watered down but it is here to stay. Expressing a want for the good ol' says may be cathartic, but doesn't change that many SWVA and RVA schools can't compete with most NOVA and Tidewater schools. What may need to be considered is allowing some schools (JM, Norcom, etc.) to petition to play up (3A to 5 or 6A). I once lived in Seattle and they have a state power, Rainer Beach that is a 1A school that plays 3A. They've won 5 state titles since 1998.

 

[highschoolsportscraze]

They keep changing the format every year but the problem is the number of classes not the format. At least let teams play up in a higher class like they used to. Spreading the best teams across four classes kills a lot of the interest.

I will say that playing anything from regional semis onward in a "higher seed" gym is pretty bush league to me, but most fanbases don't travel that well so maybe you're better off from a financial standpoint at least assuring that one team will bring a crowd. Can't imagine a 6A state quarterfinal at Woodson or Madison though.

I have no problem with neutral sites, but be flexible and smart about it. You're right, the older FCPS gyms are too small to host the bigger games, especially if you have more press and internet streaming services to cover the game. I went to the Battlefield-GW Danville NW Regional semi final game in 2013. They turned away fans due to gym capacity and Battlefield faithful that made the drive were lucky to get the 40 tickets they did; cannot imagine a Regional Final or a State game in that gym.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I have no problem with neutral sites, but be flexible and smart about it. You're right, the older FCPS gyms are too small to host the bigger games, especially if you have more press and internet streaming services to cover the game. I went to the Battlefield-GW Danville NW Regional semi final game in 2013. They turned away fans due to gym capacity and Battlefield faithful that made the drive were lucky to get the 40 tickets they did; cannot imagine a Regional Final or a State game in that gym.

I was at that game as well. Should've played that game at Averett University in Danville.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I think you all hit it right on the head. The old format was much much better. There's way too many champs as well. @pawfan YOU SIR ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I say cut it down from 6 to 3.

 

[highschoolsportscraze]

I was at that game as well. Should've played that game at Averett University in Danville.

That was one of the top 5 high school basketball games I have ever seen. GW - Danville faithful were really into that game from tip to final buzzer; Battlefield relinquished a 14 point lead but pulled it out in the end in a tight game, 95-89, to earn its first State appearance.

 

[thegift72]

I think you all hit it right on the head. The old format was much much better. There's way too many champs as well. @pawfan YOU SIR ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I say cut it down from 6 to 3.

Not going to happen. 6 classifications are here to stay. What did my boy Brent Musburger say, "Deal with it."

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

That was one of the top 5 high school basketball games I have ever seen. GW - Danville faithful were really into that game from tip to final buzzer; Battlefield relinquished a 14 point lead but pulled it out in the end in a tight game, 95-89, to earn its first State appearance.

GW looked ahead and didn't take the Bobcats seriously. Battlefield put the BEATDOWN on GW in deed that night. GW had 4 D1 players on that team. Great game!

 

[jorgyman]

This we debated last year, how did VHSL do? I think not so well, the Class 6 bracket could have regional finalist playing in the State Semi Final game. Regional finalist should not have to play the same team 10 days later in the State semi finals ... travel, hotels, costs, I get it. But something a little more creative could be put in place

 

[matthew328826]

A lot of discussion this winter on VHSL basketball Tournament format. Lose the right games you continue to advance, lose the wrong game and your eliminated from playoffs -- ask Oscar Smith, VA PREPS #1 all year. Most states have a "one and done' "survive and advance" format.

Winning a North Region title requires an extra game over winning a South Region title. You can lose a district tournament, a regional tournament and still qualify for state tournament. You can lose two games in a regional tournament and still make the state tournament.

I am not sure how district realignment will shake out for basketball postseason but I would like to see a tournament format that rewards winners, survive and advance like most other states. My preferred format: Regular season district champions and district tournament champions (or regular season second place in event of dual winner) play in a 16 team tournament. First round and quarterfinals at the home school's gym.

Final four gets played at a super site -- survive and advance. would love to hear more thoughts

Since when was Oscar Smith, VaPreps #1 all year? I can send you the spreadsheet of the weekly rankings and the Tigers never ascended to the #1 spot in Class 6 at any point. That spot has been held by Western Branch after W.T. Woodson - the defending Champ - fell from the perch early on...

Oscar Smith and George Marshall have been as high as #2. Both fell in the regional semis.

Just wanted to clear that up.

 

[falcettik]

Matt, this thread was started in March 2017-hence the initial post's reference to Smith as #1. I said the same thing, then saw the date.

 

[matthew328826]

Matt, this thread was started in March 2017-hence the initial post's reference to Smith as #1. I said the same thing, then saw the date.

Ah, you're right. My bad.

 

[804hoops]

I like this year's format with the exception of the State Quarterfinals game. Should do away with it. Region Champions should meet for State Semifinals. At no point should you be able to lose and advance in state playoffs.

 

[ERFootball#1]

The playoff format is a joke. Remember all the classic battles at a packed Churchland gym or Scope arena and being able to see a bunch of great matchups all in one place?? Same for some other regions that did similar. The VHSL ruined what used to be a great playoff structure in Hampton Roads and elsewhere. Didn't even take but a few years for them to have to go back to the drawing board and make adjustments again too. Such a shame.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

The playoff format is a joke. Remember all the classic battles at a packed Churchland gym or Scope arena and being able to see a bunch of great matchups all in one place?? Same for some other regions that did similar. The VHSL ruined what used to be a great playoff structure in Hampton Roads and elsewhere. Didn't even take but a few years for them to have to go back to the drawing board and make adjustments again too. Such a shame.

100!