With just four regular season games remaining on the Highlanders boys' basketball schedule, thoughts of many fans are turning to the upcoming playoffs.
All teams play in the playoffs.
Webster is one of the 10 teams in Region 1 (there are four regions in Class AA). Region 1 is broken down into two sections and Webster is part of Section 2, which includes Braxton County, Ravenswood, Ritchie County, and Roane County. Region 1, Section 1 teams include East Fairmont, Fairmont Senior, North Marion, Oak Glen, and Weir. Webster has beaten all teams in Section 2 except for Ritchie County, whom they do not play in the regular season. Webster has not played any of the teams in Section 1. Fairmont Senior is currently ranked third in Class AA. North Marion has received a number of votes by the Associated Press ("AP") writers.
Since there is an odd number of teams in each section, the two lowest rated teams meet in what is known as a "play-in" game. The winner of the "play-in" game meets the top seed in the section, and the two and three ranked teams play each other. Then, the two winners meet for the sectional championship.
The ranking of the teams for the sectional games is by vote of the coaches. As such, there is no guarantee as to Webster's eventual ranking. Webster and Roane are currently ranked within the top 10 in Class AA, and Ritchie County has received a number of votes by the AP writers. At this point, either Webster, Roane, or Ritchie could receive the top ranking in Section 2. The top ranking guarantees home court advantage.
The sectional games, including the sectional championships, are required by the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission to be played between February 25, 2013 and March 2, 2013.
The winner of the Section 2 championship game will play the loser of the Section 1 championship game, and the winner of the Section 1 championship game will play the loser of the Section 2 championship game. Those two winners from Region 1 then advance to the State Tournament in Charleston.
The regional games are required to be played between March 5, 2013 and March 7, 2013.
Prior to the regional games, all of the coaches of the teams playing for the regional championships (16 total) rank all teams except their own, with the highest rankings for the winning teams setting the rankings for the 8 teams that advance to the State Tournament (2 teams from each of the 4 regions in Class AA).
The State Tournament is scheduled to be played between March 13, 2013 and March 16, 2013. Class AA teams play on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (championship game).
So, how many playoff games would Webster have to play to advance to the State Tournament?
Answer: most likely, three games (assuming Webster is not ranked four or five among the five Region 1, Section 2 teams). These three games would include an opening round sectional game, a sectional championship game, and a regional championship game. To guarantee home court advantage in these three games, Webster may likely need to win its last four games against Greenbrier West, Pikeview, Shady Spring, and Midland Trail.
To win a State Championship, Webster would have to win three more games in the State Tournament.
very informative!
ReplyDeleteLast year, going into the State Tournament, Webster got screwed royally. They had the third best record in Class AA, but were ranked 7 out of the 8 teams at the Tournament. Webster can thank those other coaches from screwing us--hope we don't have a repeat at any level, sectionals or states, this year.
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