What makes the high schools boys’ and girls’ basketball tournaments exciting? The upsets do. Well, unless you are a fan of the favorite that just got beat, then its just upsetting.
I think one of the major factors in those upsets is the fact that the tournament games are played on a neutral site. That has been the tradition in Ohio, but its beginning to change. The Central District, that would be schools in the metro Columbus area, but includes schools in Marion, Morrow and Knox Counties in North Central Ohio, has for several years now had a policy where they seed the entire district and in the first two rounds the higher seeded team hosts the tournament game. The Northeast District, which for you fans of the Ohio Cardinal Conference, includes both Wooster and Orrville, has introduced the same plan this year.
I have also heard that the Northwest District, that would include all of the schools in Richland County is considering moving in that direction too, as early as next year, and I don’t like it.
First of all, I think a neutral site produces a more competitive game, which is what the basketball fan wants to see. More than any other sport basketball teams enjoy a home court advantage and now you are forcing a team that already has a smaller chance to win or they wouldn’t be the lower seed to have an even more difficult time.
The unofficial nickname for the state tournament is the “Trail of Tears” and I have been there to see many a heartbreak, but that is what makes high school sports so exciting. These aren’t professional athletes that we expect to be able to make the tough shots all of the time and make the amazing acrobatic plays, but I wouldn’t trade the multiple overtime thriller between Willard, led by Jimmy Langhurst, and Upper Sandusky, led by Jon Deibler for the world. That game was played at nearby Ashland University, not Willard or Upper Sandusky.
More than 20 years ago an unheralded Shelby team beat top seeded Lexington in a first round tournament game. Would that have happened had the game been played at Lexington? Likely not.
Also, I think you are asking for poorer attendance if you schedule games in home gyms. Clear Fork is the farthest school south in the Northwest District. If the Colts were forced to play a tournament game at let’s say Norwalk and they are the underdog, well that’s a more than hour trip sometimes in bad weather. Meanwhile, Mansfield Senior or even Willard would be a lot better choice for fans.
Would there be good things too? Certainly there would.
For one, you are rewarding the higher seeded team for having a better season and allowing them to play home floor. I think that has some merit, but if I am the better team I should have the confidence to win no matter where the game is being played. I would say that having the higher seeded team play at home is better than what often times happens in spring sports where a higher seeded team has to play another good team on their home field.
I hope the Northwest District is listening to me; although, if previous experience is any reference, they are not.
After years of toil and sweat behind radio station microphones, longtime broadcaster, Jeff Swank joined the new generation of sports followers on the web.
Swank launched his internet radio station with nothing more than some wire, a box with some knobs and switches, and an itch to do much more than just scratch the surface of everything sports.
Richland Source is proud to introduce Jeff as a writer focused on high school sports. He will contribute a weekly column and analysis of a featured game of the week from one of our area high schools.
In addition to his work at Richland Source, Jeff provides complete high school sports coverage for over 70 Ohio schools at his web site, http://www.swankonsports.net76.net/.
