Two sides of the "watered down" regionals

Robert Anderson's article today in the Roanoke Times made me think. The article, linked here: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/highschool/wb/195653 makes some good points. His argument that the playoffs have become cheapened and that the field is all watered down are pretty accurate. Robert Anderson is a very good sportswriter and actually used to write for the Bristol Herald some time ago. But I tend to disagree with some of these claims.

IS THE REGION C BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS WATERED DOWN?
Absolutely. There are four win teams in the PLAYOFFS!

But.

The whole reason it is like this is because the VHSL and much of Charlottesville doesn't understand the concept of geography and numbers. Numbers are more important for schools of less than 500 than for schools with more. Yet for years we've seen Gate City and Pound in the same district, 600 vs 200 students fighting for the same trophy. Something had to be done. Thankfully they split up basketball like they did for football. It was a good move. Our Region C isn't what it used to be. Small schools are only getting smaller. Its only fair to some of those athletes that they get a chance to fight for a championship of their own size. Clearly, problems still lie in other areas of the state where Division 1 takes on a whole new meaning. Division 1 in C & D mean roughly 350 and below while Division 1 in A & B mean about 520 and below. Not a big difference in Charlottesville. But a sizeable difference for those of us acquainted with high school sports.

Two divisions are necessary. Virginia needs more than three classifications, this is a good way to achieve that and maintain districts.

Are Championships Cheapened???
How could they be? The best teams from each division that win the state or regional championships are still the best teams out of those regions or state. They had to beat the rest of the teams to get there. Should a 4-18 Narrows make the playoffs over a 9 or 10 win divison 2 team? Maybe that part isn't fair. But 4-18 Narrows probably won't win their region and if they did, do they deserve it any less? 9 and 10 win D2 teams probably won't win the region either but if they did, then they had to earn it against the best. The regular season means more than ever, and while the district tournament may mean less, it still factors in large part to how teams will be seeded in regional play, both on my ratings system and to the ADs who actually select these teams. Arguments that regular seasons are meainingless when most every team makes the playoffs is a bad assessment too. Previously, you could have a knock out regular season and screw up once in your district tournament and your season is over. Now, if anything, every good team gets in. Also some poor teams, there is a tradeoff with every system. I much prefer every worthy team make it with a few duds than having talented teams sit at home while Cinderella prances her way to a sure disappointment.

Winning state does not mean you're the best in your classification anymore.
Why doesn't it? George Wythe was 2008's Division 2 State Champion. They didn't win Division 1. The argument that this means that you're the best team out of a fewer number of schools is an accurate assessment. Does George Wythe care? No, they were STATE champions! There were only 4 crowned! Does anyone care? No, you're one of 4 teams out of hundreds in Virginia who are crowned. Even if you cut the field in half, it is no less cheapened. You're better than all the schools "feasibly" your size (Again there are some issues with region B enrollments being huge), but that is all you're asked to do anyway. Council should not have to be the best team of every team from 700 students and fewer. Only 350 or less. You're asking a lot of smaller schools when you put them head to head with schools two or three times their size and advertise them as being in the same classification.

Loving the new system
I love the new system we've adopted. I love seeing schools in our region who don't normally play, actually play each other. Region D is so tight nit and so close to the Hogoheegee, we are more familiar with a different Region than our own. At least this way, we get some exposure up I81 to teams that we're competing against to make the playoffs each year. That part is amazing. It results in a lot of long drives, but like I said: VHSL + Geography = Purple Dinosaur.

Is there a better way?
Sure. But I don't have the answer and apparently the R&R Committee doesn't yet either. I have proposed several reclassifications to the VHSL over the years. I have an inbox full of "Thank you for your interest, your recommendations will be considered". Over the summer I will be drafting up another 5A version and sending it to Tom Dolan. He will look over it and consider it like he always says he does and he'll toss it out. But at least I tried.

Robert Anderson & Eastern Montgomery:
EM is 19-3 and shouldn't care what Mr. Anderson says about whining and trying. EM has achieved a rare feat for a school their size having to face schools in the rest of the TRD. What Robert Anderson may not understand is the concept of "rebuilding" and "reloading". Off the top of your head, rattle off perennial football programs in Region C... GO!
George Wythe, Giles, Radford, Floyd, Chilhowie, Grayson., Rural Retreat, and Bath County.

What do 3/4ths of those teams have in common?

They're BIGGER! Bigger schools don't rebuild. They reload. They have waves of talent come through every single year.

Smaller schools rebuild. They have to mix and match younger guys in there, give them a few years and build up a good team. Have a good year. And start over again. It is very rare that a small school can produce year in and year out. Bath County, Rural Retreat, and JI Burton are rare exceptions. You could argue Clintwood, but they were D2 not long ago and are on the bigger end of D1. But even they have had some stinker seasons in recent years.

In other words, EM's fantastic season this year could mean a mediocre season next year and a terrible season the next. They are not given a fair opportunity year in and year out. The Hogoheegee is very well put together. Our enrollment range is only about 150 kids. People within the Hogo whine all the time that GW is too big and should leave. In reality, PH has been bigger for years and up until this year was considerably bigger. EM has roughly 300 students while Radford, Giles, Floyd, and Glenvar have 5-600. A 300 student gap is a big deal to small schools, Robert.

Pocahontas, before it shut down, had less than 100. Grayson County has over 600. A 500 student gap is a big deal to small schools, Robert.

Highland has about 100 students, James River has close to 450. 350 students is a big gap to small schools, Robert.

Get my point?

These smaller schools deserve the right to play for their own championship. This doesn't mean that they can't occassionally compete with the big boys and in fact should compete, its fun for them and its good for the communities. The nature of high school sports is its unpredictability but the gaps have widened in both numbers and talent. 24 teams with a losing record might make the playoffs, only one team will win the state championship for each division. Losing record or not, they proved they were better when they had to be. That is what its all about. But realize, the smaller schools are becoming smaller - bigger schools are becoming bigger.