3 class system

[classB4ever]

The QRF is fine, but each school still needs 21 regular season games. If there are only 11 teams in each region in Class A and a school doesn't play all of them then how do you get to 21 games? Rely on Class B opponents? The small schools will have plenty of local competition in their own class. Plus, cross class competition has always been limited in ND. At minimum there has to be 32 schools in the middle class for this to work. 38-40 would be more preferable.

For the proposed Class B, scheduling would actually become easier as there would be some additional teams in certain regions dropping down from current Class A. Addressing the "getting to 21 games" for proposed Class A, absolutely no reason why there couldn't be mid-season tourneys in central location to play the farthest teams in each region. Split up gate among participating teams. Have to believe these would be very popular tourneys and a great chance for basketball fans to see teams they rarely get to see. The teams that dropped down from current Class A, would be saving a lot of money on travel by scheduling B teams during the year. Seems like a win-win situation all the way around.

Cross class competition has been limited in the past due to "current 2 class system". All my comments have been based on a hybrid 3-class system playing 2 state tourneys (AA and A/B). So really see no reason not to schedule teams in your area whether A or B.

Brought this back from up thread just for discussions on how it could possibly look. Ratio is biggest to smallest in each region. This has some private/parochial schools opting up and also shows 8 biggest schools in each region located in A. NOT a straight enrollment cut off.

East Region (3:1)
West Fargo High School 1458
West Fargo Sheyenne High School 1285
Fargo Davies High School 1261
Grand Forks Red River 1071
Fargo South High School 1034
Grand Forks Central 1020
Fargo North High School 898
Devils Lake Firebirds 476
Shanley High School 0

West Region (3.6:1)
Minot High School 1900
Bismarck Century High School 1252
Bismarck Legacy High School 1189
Williston High School 1166
Bismarck High School 1145
Mandan High School 1033
Dickinson 945
Jamestown High School 665
Turtle Mountain Comm HS 529
Bismarck St. Mary's 0

Region 1A (2.8:1)
Valley City High School 339
Wahpeton High School 333
Central Cass High School 227
Kindred High School 200
Lisbon High School 178
Northern Cass High School 162
Milnor/North Sargent 140
Oak Grove High School 123

Region 2A (2:1)
Grafton Spoilers 268
Four Winds/Minnewaukan 231
Hillsboro/Central Valley 213
Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich 176
May-Port CG HS 153
Carrington High School 148
Park River/Fordville-Lankin 143
Thompson High School 132

Region 3A (3.6:1)
Watford City 387
Bottineau High School 195
Stanley High School 192
Dunseith High School 190
Harvey/Wells County 181
Des Lacs-Burlington HS 175
Rugby High School 166
Bishop Ryan High School 109

Region 4A (1.9:1)
New Town High School 261
Beulah High School 201
Standing Rock Community High School 200
Hazen High School 174
Heart River 174
Dickinson Trinity High School 150
Killdeer High School 142
Shiloh Christian High School 140

Region 1 B (2.6:1)
Oakes High School 138
Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier 133
Wyndmere/Lidgerwood 131
LaMoure-Litchville/Marion 119
Linton/HMB Lions 117
Kidder County High School 115
Napoleon/G-S Imperials 101
Ellendale High School 95
South Border Mustangs 91
Barnes County North High School 84
Medina-Pingree/Buchanan 83
Enderlin High School 82
Richland High School 79
Hankinson High School 76
Finley-Sharon/Hope Page 74
Maple Valley High School 61
Sargent Central High School 59
Strasburg/Zeeland 54
Tri-State: Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah-Rosholt 0

Region 2B (2.6:1)
Cavalier High School 129
Hatton/Northwood 125
Midway/Minto 122
St. John High School 121
Drayton/Valley-Edinburg 113
North Border 110
Larimore High School 109
TGU Titans 88
New Rockford-Sheyenne High School 88
Dakota Prairie High School 78
North Star 75
Benson County 74
Rolla High School 65
Griggs County Central High School 62
Warwick High School 60
Westhope/Newburg 60
Rolette/Wolford Comets 58
Drake/Anamoose Raiders 58
Lakota High School 57
Midkota 49

Region 3B (2.7:1)
Bowman County High School 130
Garrison High School 119
Beach High School 115
Hettinger/Scranton 114
Wilton-Wing 97
Washburn High School 89
New Salem-Almont High School 88
Richardton-Taylor High School 82
Glen Ullin/Hebron 77
Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky 72
New England High School 70
Flasher 66
Mott-Regent HS 59
Grant County HS 58
Solen High School 55
Max High School 53
Underwood High School 51
Center-Stanton HS 48

Region 4B (4.5:1)
Velva High School 145
Nedrose High School 136
Tioga High School 120
South Prairie High School 111
Divide County High School 102
Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood High School 100
Surrey High School 94
Trenton High School 89
Glenburn High School 86
Ray High School 82
Kenmare High School 77
Lewis & Clark High School - Berthold 67
Parshall High School 64
Bowbells/Burke Central 62
Our Redeemer's HS 59
Mandaree High School 56
Alexander High School 53
White Shield High School 50
Powers Lake High School 49
Lewis & Clark, North Shore 36
Williston Trinity Christian High School 32

[Flip]

classB4ever, I could get behind a plan like that.

https://www.nd.gov/dpi/uploads/1213/201 ... School.pdf
This what I use for enrollment. It doesn't have the private schools in it, but it seems reliable.

[leroybla]

At one time, did that same site show how many open-enrolled students each district had? I'm nearly positive I've seen it but can't find it anymore.

[Flip]

At one time, did that same site show how many open-enrolled students each district had? I'm nearly positive I've seen it but can't find it anymore.

https://www.nd.gov/dpi/SchoolStaff/Scho ... Resources/

I've never seen it.

[classB4ever]

AA, A/B (Hybrid 3 class system)

AA - 19 teams. Nothing changes other than removal of some teams.

A - 32 teams. 8 largest schools in each region with biggest private/parochial schools opting in. Fill out schedule with other Class A and B teams. Perhaps mid-season tournament with other regional A teams. For end of year, would suggest x2 - "Sweet - 16 A" tourneys. Would cross schedule every year. First year, 1A & 3A. 2A & 4A. Next year, 1A & 4A, 2A & 3A. Next year, 1A & 2A, 3A & 4A. This allows other cities, Fargo, Grand Forks, Dickinson, etc. to host tourneys. This would be seeded by QRF. Top 2 teams from each tourney will go to state.

B - All the rest - about 80 teams. 9 - 10 in districts. Mid-season tourneys in current district gyms. End of year - play out districts to top 2 teams. These tourneys can be held in current regional gyms. These teams go to "Sweet 16 B" tourney located in Bismarck or Minot (wherever state isn't) and is seeded by QRF. Top 4 teams go to state.

State A-B tournament - Should have best 4 A teams and best 4 B teams and much better chance of having best 8 teams in state.

Benefits:
1. Scheduling stays the same or easier.
2. Like teams playing like teams. Better basketball throughout course of year.
3. Better tournaments from top to bottom.
4. Keeps 2 state tournaments. "David vs. Goliath" is still alive and well.
5. Would guess revenue would increase with very competitive tournaments.
6. Travel should remain the same. Much better for some teams.
7. QRF seeding and new tournament format would make it much more likely best teams are going to state.

Thoughts?
Tweaking. Chance. No chance.

[BISONFAN18]

After seeing more proposals, I think it should should be left alone. North Dakota missed the bus. A 3 class system should have been implemented in the 90's. I actually think open enrollment and a 2 class system has hurt small town ND. Had there been 3-classes 20+ years ago, there would be a lot less co-ops today and a lot better basketball. Looking at these newest proposals and seeing some more public debate, I don't think it is worth changing it at this time.

[woodchuck10]

Rather see 8 champions than “the best teams” at state. You know why region 4 is consistently packed to the rafters in a Devils Lake? Cause it’s win or your done. St. John never made the B and it took a our Mr. Basketball candidate blocking a last second shot (that would’ve went I would bet) in the region championship vs Langdon to get there. You can’t replicate that when you let multiple teams from a region make the State tournament.

The SEC doesn’t need 2 teams in a 4 team playoff and we don’t need Four Winds, Langdon, and Dunseith or Oak Grove, Kindred, and Wyndmere at state. Win your tournament and you get to state. Simplicity.

[woodchuck10]

After seeing more proposals, I think it should should be left alone. North Dakota missed the bus. A 3 class system should have been implemented in the 90's. I actually think open enrollment and a 2 class system has hurt small town ND. Had there been 3-classes 20+ years ago, there would be a lot less co-ops today and a lot better basketball. Looking at these newest proposals and seeing some more public debate, I don't think it is worth changing it at this time.

I agree. Like someone stated above. We don’t have a true middle class like South Dakota does. We have Belcourt, Watford City, Valley City, Wahpeton, and maybe Devils Lake and Jamestown. I think in the 90’s we did with Langdon, Rugby, Harvey etc.

Would be curious what a 3 class system would do to Four winds/Minneuaken, Langdon/Edmore/Munich and HCV. I wonder if the break up to stay in B?

[BISONFAN18]

After seeing more proposals, I think it should should be left alone. North Dakota missed the bus. A 3 class system should have been implemented in the 90's. I actually think open enrollment and a 2 class system has hurt small town ND. Had there been 3-classes 20+ years ago, there would be a lot less co-ops today and a lot better basketball. Looking at these newest proposals and seeing some more public debate, I don't think it is worth changing it at this time.

I agree. Like someone stated above. We don’t have a true middle class like South Dakota does. We have Belcourt, Watford City, Valley City, Wahpeton, and maybe Devils Lake and Jamestown. I think in the 90’s we did with Langdon, Rugby, Harvey etc.

Would be curious what a 3 class system would do to Four winds/Minneuaken, Langdon/Edmore/Munich and HCV. I wonder if the break up to stay in B?

The middle class in SD is very good basketball. Coincidentally, they made the switch to 3-classes in the 90s.

[classB4ever]

All fair points. Although I do agree something should have been done 20 years ago, I thought perhaps a big shakeup could interject new life in small town basketball. Unfortunately (will use this website for an example) you both are probably correct and it's too late. For me, had given up discussing any changes five years ago as I witnessed participation dwindling across the state. State tournament becoming predictable and quite frankly not having the same vibe as years past. Have no horse in this race other than my love for basketball. For some reason, that is slowly going away as well. Thanks for discussion.

[B Historian]

The QRF is fine, but each school still needs 21 regular season games. If there are only 11 teams in each region in Class A and a school doesn't play all of them then how do you get to 21 games?

Schedule out of class games.

Rely on Class B opponents?

yes

The small schools will have plenty of local competition in their own class.

I disagree.

Plus, cross class competition has always been limited in ND.

Because your average big school is 14x larger than your average small school. Thompson still isn't going to put Red River on their schedule in a 3 class system, but they'll probably schedule Grafton.

At minimum there has to be 32 schools in the middle class for this to work. 38-40 would be more preferable.

I think 32 is the perfect number.

There is a big difference between 22 teams in the middle class and 32+, which was exactly my point. 32 is a workable number but 38-40 would be better for reasons which I will explain later.

[The Schwab]

SD's middle class goes from total enrollment of 340-85 (Total) approximately and 183-46 approximately (male only). Both of these are based on 3 grades and the ADM or average daily membership (attendance). So if we extrapolate these numbers to cover 4 grades (as ND does in the football plan, where I will take my numbers). That would give us a total enrollment of 453- 113 and a male enrollment 244-61 if we'd adjust it to fit the numbers we have for our football plan. We currently have 36 schools in that range in North Dakota. That's right I said THIRTY-SIX. There's no way that we could possibly have a middle class with THIRTY-SIX teams, that's preposterous! We have approximately 130 basketball teams in ND. That would mean roughly 28 percent of our teams would be in the middle class. There are 178 teams in SD, 54 teams are in their middle class. 30 percent of their teams are in the middle class. It's preposterous to think that North Dakota could possibly have a middle class, that's a two percent difference, TWO percent. We couldn't possibly make that work.

North Dakota can make a middle class work, period.

[B Historian]

The QRF is fine, but each school still needs 21 regular season games. If there are only 11 teams in each region in Class A and a school doesn't play all of them then how do you get to 21 games? Rely on Class B opponents? The small schools will have plenty of local competition in their own class. Plus, cross class competition has always been limited in ND. At minimum there has to be 32 schools in the middle class for this to work. 38-40 would be more preferable.

For the proposed Class B, scheduling would actually become easier as there would be some additional teams in certain regions dropping down from current Class A. Addressing the "getting to 21 games" for proposed Class A, absolutely no reason why there couldn't be mid-season tourneys in central location to play the farthest teams in each region. Split up gate among participating teams. Have to believe these would be very popular tourneys and a great chance for basketball fans to see teams they rarely get to see. The teams that dropped down from current Class A, would be saving a lot of money on travel by scheduling B teams during the year. Seems like a win-win situation all the way around.

Cross class competition has been limited in the past due to "current 2 class system". All my comments have been based on a hybrid 3-class system playing 2 state tourneys (AA and A/B). So really see no reason not to schedule teams in your area whether A or B.

Brought this back from up thread just for discussions on how it could possibly look. Ratio is biggest to smallest in each region. This has some private/parochial schools opting up and also shows 8 biggest schools in each region located in A. NOT a straight enrollment cut off.

East Region (3:1)
West Fargo High School 1458
West Fargo Sheyenne High School 1285
Fargo Davies High School 1261
Grand Forks Red River 1071
Fargo South High School 1034
Grand Forks Central 1020
Fargo North High School 898
Devils Lake Firebirds 476
Shanley High School 0

West Region (3.6:1)
Minot High School 1900
Bismarck Century High School 1252
Bismarck Legacy High School 1189
Williston High School 1166
Bismarck High School 1145
Mandan High School 1033
Dickinson 945
Jamestown High School 665
Turtle Mountain Comm HS 529
Bismarck St. Mary's 0

Region 1A (2.8:1)
Valley City High School 339
Wahpeton High School 333
Central Cass High School 227
Kindred High School 200
Lisbon High School 178
Northern Cass High School 162
Milnor/North Sargent 140
Oak Grove High School 123

Region 2A (2:1)
Grafton Spoilers 268
Four Winds/Minnewaukan 231
Hillsboro/Central Valley 213
Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich 176
May-Port CG HS 153
Carrington High School 148
Park River/Fordville-Lankin 143
Thompson High School 132

Region 3A (3.6:1)
Watford City 387
Bottineau High School 195
Stanley High School 192
Dunseith High School 190
Harvey/Wells County 181
Des Lacs-Burlington HS 175
Rugby High School 166
Bishop Ryan High School 109

Region 4A (1.9:1)
New Town High School 261
Beulah High School 201
Standing Rock Community High School 200
Hazen High School 174
Heart River 174
Dickinson Trinity High School 150
Killdeer High School 142
Shiloh Christian High School 140

Region 1 B (2.6:1)
Oakes High School 138
Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier 133
Wyndmere/Lidgerwood 131
LaMoure-Litchville/Marion 119
Linton/HMB Lions 117
Kidder County High School 115
Napoleon/G-S Imperials 101
Ellendale High School 95
South Border Mustangs 91
Barnes County North High School 84
Medina-Pingree/Buchanan 83
Enderlin High School 82
Richland High School 79
Hankinson High School 76
Finley-Sharon/Hope Page 74
Maple Valley High School 61
Sargent Central High School 59
Strasburg/Zeeland 54
Tri-State: Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah-Rosholt 0

Region 2B (2.6:1)
Cavalier High School 129
Hatton/Northwood 125
Midway/Minto 122
St. John High School 121
Drayton/Valley-Edinburg 113
North Border 110
Larimore High School 109
TGU Titans 88
New Rockford-Sheyenne High School 88
Dakota Prairie High School 78
North Star 75
Benson County 74
Rolla High School 65
Griggs County Central High School 62
Warwick High School 60
Westhope/Newburg 60
Rolette/Wolford Comets 58
Drake/Anamoose Raiders 58
Lakota High School 57
Midkota 49

Region 3B (2.7:1)
Bowman County High School 130
Garrison High School 119
Beach High School 115
Hettinger/Scranton 114
Wilton-Wing 97
Washburn High School 89
New Salem-Almont High School 88
Richardton-Taylor High School 82
Glen Ullin/Hebron 77
Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky 72
New England High School 70
Flasher 66
Mott-Regent HS 59
Grant County HS 58
Solen High School 55
Max High School 53
Underwood High School 51
Center-Stanton HS 48

Region 4B (4.5:1)
Velva High School 145
Nedrose High School 136
Tioga High School 120
South Prairie High School 111
Divide County High School 102
Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood High School 100
Surrey High School 94
Trenton High School 89
Glenburn High School 86
Ray High School 82
Kenmare High School 77
Lewis & Clark High School - Berthold 67
Parshall High School 64
Bowbells/Burke Central 62
Our Redeemer's HS 59
Mandaree High School 56
Alexander High School 53
White Shield High School 50
Powers Lake High School 49
Lewis & Clark, North Shore 36
Williston Trinity Christian High School 32

If ND went to a 3-class system, in my opinion it makes no sense to do A/B as a hybrid simply to get a couple more small schools than average into the state tournament. I think a pure three class system is the way to go, but it has to be done right to make feasible. The biggest logistical problem is finding a way to fit six different state tournaments (between boys and girls) into about a 4 week window.

[Flip]

you have a better chance of getting mauled by a grizzly bear and polar bear on the same day than seeing a 3 class hybrid system in ND.

[B Historian]

SD's middle class goes from total enrollment of 340-85 (Total) approximately and 183-46 approximately (male only). Both of these are based on 3 grades and the ADM or average daily membership (attendance). So if we extrapolate these numbers to cover 4 grades (as ND does in the football plan, where I will take my numbers). That would give us a total enrollment of 453- 113 and a male enrollment 244-61 if we'd adjust it to fit the numbers we have for our football plan. We currently have 36 schools in that range in North Dakota. That's right I said THIRTY-SIX. There's no way that we could possibly have a middle class with THIRTY-SIX teams, that's preposterous! We have approximately 130 basketball teams in ND. That would mean roughly 28 percent of our teams would be in the middle class. There are 178 teams in SD, 54 teams are in their middle class. 30 percent of their teams are in the middle class. It's preposterous to think that North Dakota could possibly have a middle class, that's a two percent difference, TWO percent. We couldn't possibly make that work.

North Dakota can make a middle class work, period.

Yes, it can work if done right. Enrollment is projected to grow at about 73% of the current Class B schools over the next eight years. Overall enrollment at schools that are currently Class B will be up 10-12%. There will still be a few more coops that evolve out of necessity but I think that era is mostly over for now. In fact, in the next 10 years there may be as many coops that dissolve than evolve. There has been 60 years of school consolidation and sports coops evolving in the rural areas of the state and that trend may be starting to reverse itself. Right now there are 23 public schools in the state with enrollments of between 150 and 450. In four years there will be 30 such schools.

In 2027 ND could have a 40 team middle class with five of the private schools in it and public school enrollment ranging from 337 to 139. This is what it would could look like in 2023:

Region 1
Wahpeton
Valley City
Central Cass
Kindred
Lisbon
Northern Cass
Oakes
Tri State
Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier
Oak Grove

Region 2
Grafton
Four Winds-Minnewaukan
Hillsboro-Central Valley
Thompson
Carrington
Harvey-Wells County
Hatton-Northwood
Langdon Area
May-Port CG
Park River-Fordville-Lankin

Region 3
Des Lacs-Burlington
Stanley
Bottineau
Nedrose
Rugby
South Prairie
Velva
Surrey
Minot Ryan
Our Redeemer's

Region 4
New Town
Beulah
Standing Rock
Killdeer
Heart River
Hazen
Bowman Co
Tioga
Dickinson Trinity
Shiloh Christian

[classB4ever]

you have a better chance of getting mauled by a grizzly bear and polar bear on the same day than seeing a 3 class hybrid system in ND.

Oh, man, I had to clean my computer screen anyway.

[The Schwab]

We could fit all the tournaments into two weekends. SD does it.

[Flip]

We could fit all the tournaments into two weekends. SD does it.

MN does EIGHT state tournaments in 2 weeks

[B Historian]

2023 Class AA plan (21-22 teams)

East Region

Davies
North
South
Shanley
West Fargo
Sheyenne
WF 3rd HS
Red River
Central
Devils Lake
Jamestown

West Region

Bismarck
Century
Legacy
St. Mary's
Mandan
Dickinson
Williston
TMCHS
Minot
Minot 2nd HS?
Watford City

Before anyone questions Watford City, the school projects to have 557 students by 2023 and 624 by 2027. There is no way WC would be in a middle class for long.

Minot projects to have around 2600 HS students by 2027. A second HS is inevitable in my opinion.

[B Historian]

2023 Class B Plan (69teams)

Region 1
Milnor-North Sargent
LaMoure-Litchville-Marion
Wyndmere-Lidgerwood
Enderlin Area
Hankinson
Richland
Maple Valley
Sargent Central

Region 2
Midway-Minto
Cavalier
Drayton Valley Edinburg
Larimore
North Border
Griggs County Central
Finley-Sharon-Hope-Page
Lakota

Region 3
Linton-HMB
South Border
Ellendale
Kidder County
Medina-Pingree-Buchanan
Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter
Barnes County North
Midkota
Strasburg-Zeeland

Region 4
Dunseith
St. John
North Star
Dakota Prairie
New Rockford-Sheyenne
Leeds-Maddock
Rolette-Wolford
Warwick
Rolla

Region 5
Garrison
Wilton-Wing
Washburn
Center-Stanton
Flasher
Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky
Solen
Underwood
White Shield

Region 6
TGU
Kenmare
Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood
Glenburn
Berthold
Westhope-Newburg
Max
Drake-Anamoose
North Shore

Region 7
Hettinger-Scranton
New Salem-Almont
Richardton-Taylor
Glen Ullin-Hebron
Beach
Mott-Regent
New England
Grant County

Region 8
Divide County
Ray
Trenton
Parshall
Alexander
Mandaree
Powers Lake
Bowbells-Burke Central
Trinity Christian

[B Historian]

We could fit all the tournaments into two weekends. SD does it.

MN does EIGHT state tournaments in 2 weeks

But MN also has a metro area of 3.6M people to hold those tournaments in. Arena/ hotel space a problem in ND.

[The Schwab]

One in Minot, Bismarck and Fargo on each weekend would work out just fine.

[B Historian]

A few other random thoughts on a 22/40/69 3-class system:

-Enrollment cutoff would be 450 between the top two classes. The next 40 teams would be Class A. If a coop splits up that causes a team to drop out of A, then the next top enrollment in B moves up. I can't see that the lowest school enrollment number in Class A would ever be less than 135.

-No need for a private school multiplier. I think Oak Grove, Shiloh and Trinity would all be in the middle class based on enrollment projections and Ryan and Our Redeemer's would definitely want to be in Class A. If Trinity Christian opts to stay in Class B that's fine.

-69 schools in Class B still leaves room for 5 future coops and still maintain at least 8 teams per region. I really think a few coops might split up and the number of teams in Class B increase.

-Each team in the state would get 21 regular season games.

-Class AA and Class B regional tournaments would operate exactly as they do now and probably in the same locations. I know some long for the days of everyone in B playing district tournaments but I think that ship has sailed with any new plan.

-Class A regions could operate one of two ways. They could further be split into 5 team regions (i.e. Wahpeton, Tri-State, Oakes, Lisbon, EKM in one region with Valley City, Oak Grove, Northern Cass, Central Cass and Kindred in another) to be played at two different locations with the winner of each advancing to state. Or seed all 10 teams with seeds 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 in one bracket and 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 in another. Could play all games at one location with the winner of each bracket advancing to state. This would probably get the best teams in and imagine having two state qualifier games at one location on the same night.

-State tournaments could occur over four weekends. Class B Girls week 1 in Grand Forks. Class A Girls week 1 in Bismarck. Super AA boys/girls week 2 in Fargo. Class A boys week 3 in Bismarck. Class B boys week 4 in Minot.

[ndlionsfan]

Simple solution, have a combined boys/girls state tournament for each class. Would fit the same three weekend window we have right now.

Am I going to travel to watch a A/B hybrid tournament that is fairly predictable that MAY have a David vs Goliath matchup once in 10 years? No. But I would make it a point each year to take in a smallest class state tournament in which I can watch the top boys and girls teams in that division battle it out with more than likely new teams in it each year.

[classB4ever]

Simple solution, have a combined boys/girls state tournament for each class. Would fit the same three weekend window we have right now.

Am I going to travel to watch a A/B hybrid tournament that is fairly predictable that MAY have a David vs Goliath matchup once in 10 years? No. But I would make it a point each year to take in a smallest class state tournament in which I can watch the top boys and girls teams in that division battle it out with more than likely new teams in it each year.

The system proposed up thread (hybrid) essentially addresses every single complaint, excuse, etc. that has been brought up over the years. An attempt to "think outside the box" due to the fact that a proposed straight forward 3-class system has not went anywhere.

The main goal, however, is to get competitive basketball back during the course of the year, night in and night out. Try to eliminate blow outs and increase participation because that is what the discussion should be about.

Addressing the bold above, you could go watch the "Sweet 16 - B" tourney as proposed and see the exact same thing. Only difference is, it would be at the semi's level rather than final 8.

With that being said, B-Historian has always brought forth legitimate numbers and ideas and I hope his prediction on enrollments ring true, as his plan seems to be very workable.