Preliminary Regions for 2023

[ChickenNuggets]

NDHSAA's website has a preliminary map of 2023 9-man Regions. They look to be going to FOUR regions of 10 teams each. I would expect that means they'll do a playoff format the same way as 11B with the top 4 from each region qualifying for playoffs. 9 Week regular season with every game being a regional game. 16-Team Playoffs. Region champs get seeded 1-4.

Region 1:
Hatton-Northwood
Griggs County
Maple River
Enderlin
LaMoure/LM
Wyndmere/Lidgerwood
Hankinson
Tri-State
Richland
Seargent County

Region 2:
North Border
Cavalier
Nelson County
Larimore
Midway-Minto
Northstar
North Prairie
Four Winds
St. John
New Rockford/Sheyenne

Region 3:
TGU
WNG
Surrey
Divide County
Tioga
Alexander
MLS
Dunseith
Lewis & Clark
Central McLean

Region 4:
Beach
Hettinger/scranton
Hettinger County
New Salem/Almont
Kidder County
Napoleon
South Border
Richardton/Taylor/Hebron
Grand County/Flasher
Linton HMB

[WalkingStick]

Linton-HMB back to 9-man

[Flip]

Are the playoffs the same as 11B? Like Regions 1 and 2 get matched up in the first round.

[defensewinsgames]

I personally like the four regions. I look at this playoff class this year and there is 3 teams with a losing record in the playoffs including a 2 win Kidder County team. 9 teams are at or below .500. Seems like things are a bit watered down...I think we would get more competitive playoff games if it was set up with 4 regions and the top 4 making it. I would seriously question how many of these first round games are competitive but we will find out Saturday. Unless we are willing to sacrifice competitive playoff games for more kids getting to experience making it...that argument holds some merit.

I also thought there was some huge competitive balance issues between the regions. Region 1 was stacked with good teams and not just this year but teams that have a lot of tradition and will continue to be good. Region 2 was very weak outside MayPort and has teams that struggle every year or are brand new. If regions were different I don't think some of those teams win 2,3,5 games.

[ChickenNuggets]

Just for fun- Let's pretend that this year's playoff format was like it will be next year. A couple teams may have to be switched around but I think for the most part you can figure out what regions they would be in and probably have a pretty good idea of who the top four were in each region.

Regioni 1-
1- LaMoure (#1 overall)
2- MPCG
3- Wyndmere/Lidgerwood
4- Maple River
(They pretty much all played each other so pretty easy to figure out.)

Region 2-
1- North Prairie (#3 Overall)
2- Cavalier
3- St. John
4- North Border
(NP and Cavalier both undefeated but I put NP #1 because of how the coaches poll/seeding worked out. I put St. John #3 because they were a region champion and I put North Border #4 because they beat Northstar head to head and Northstar was the #2 out of that other region)

Region 3-
1- Divde County (#4 Overall)
2- WNG
3- Surrey
4- Tioga
Most of these teams played head to head

Region 4-
#1 New Salem/Almont (#2 Overall)
#2- South Border
#3- Grant County/Flasher
#4- Hettinger County
These teams all played head to head.

Playoff Bracket-
North Border @ #1 LaMoure
Wyndmere/Lidgerwood @ Cavalier

Hettinger County @ #4 Divide County
Surrey @ South Border

Maple River @ #3 North Prairie
St John @ MayPort CG

Tioga @ #2 New Salem/Almont
Grant County/Flasher @ Westhope-Newberg-Glenburn