Tournament road thoughts
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
I can't help but think about basketball this time of the year. Whether I'm giving congratulations, or I'm being grumpy about things I disagree with, or if I'm seeing facts that catch my eye, it is safe to say from November through March I think about basketball ... a lot.
Let's just jump into this, shall we?
On the OHSAA Rebounder's Report, there is this fact that caught my eye.
In the weekly report, it talks about all kinds of information pertaining to high school basketball. This fact caught my attention: The number of girls' coaches ejected through Feb. 18 was ... any guesses? Answer: 21.
What about the number of boys coaches ejected through Jan. 14? Answer: 20.
I find facts like that interesting. I think the number added up for Highland County boys and girls varsity coaches is zero this season. Nice job, coaches, of keeping your cool.
So, with all of these tournament venues I've traveled to the past two weeks (Adena, Valley, Waverly and Southeastern High Schools), what about the schools have caught my attention?
At Adena, it was the 34 United States flags hanging from the rafters of their gym. At Valley, it is their hallway full of trophies that I looked at before I left. For Waverly, has to be the posters hanging on the gym walls of all their basketball players. I like the one with the team hanging above one of the entrances to the gym. Those posters catch my attention each year. At Southeastern, it is the color blue they have all around the gym. Also, their school is extremely nice. The hallway walk to their gym is just an awesome view, with history all around both sides of the hallway.
I'll be back at Waverly on Monday for the girls tournament, and on Tuesday I will watch two games at Valley for Division IV boys sectional games.
Speaking of tournament venues, here is where it gets interesting.
In the same Rebounder's Report, it has a question-answer type of deal. Here is one of the Q&A's that caught my attention.
"Question: Has any thought ever been given to playing on Home courts? Answer: There has, and discussion continues. Currently, regulations have prohibited playing on home courts in basketball tournaments."
I think at least sectional games should be played on a home court, or at least in one of the counties where one of the teams play.
Does it make any sense to have North Adams and Lynchburg-Clay play their sectional opener game in Pike County? Did I mention LC and NA are connecting counties, probably 30 minutes apart, if that. I know with the draw of the tournament, it's a short-notice thing where opponents don't know who and where they would play, but if playing football, volleyball, baseball, softball and soccer sectional games at a home venue work, why not basketball?
What about when McClain played Hillsboro in a sectional opener on Tuesday? That game was in Ross County. HHS and MHS are both from Highland County, about 18 minutes apart. Wouldn't that have saved a lot of money for everyone involved, and brought more money to the schools, if it would have been held at a home court? Let's be real, sectional games are played at a high school gym anyway, so why not just hold them at a home court?
I understand district games being held at a larger facility like Athens, that's fine, but sectionals are held at a regular high school gym. Plus, every team makes the tournament anyway, so why not just have the sectionals at a home court of the higher-seeded team?
Or why doesn't the Patriot Center hold sectional tournament games?
It is a great facility. It is a 2,500-seat capacity building and has hosted many high school games in the past, up until this season.
One of my favorite things about this year's tournament have been the crowds.
Though some crowds have been larger than others, I love the fact the fans have been into the games, giving the referees (rhymes with bell) and cheering their team until the final play. (Unless they wanted to beat traffic, which I understand. I hate getting stuck in traffic.)
Well, if you are reading this, I am probably either at a tournament game, planning to go to a tournament game or driving to or from a tournament game.
Either way, no matter if the games are at a home court, a Highland County facility, a neutral high school gym or at a Convocation Center in Athens, this time of year, though draining, is still a fun learning experience for everyone involved.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Let's just jump into this, shall we?
On the OHSAA Rebounder's Report, there is this fact that caught my eye.
In the weekly report, it talks about all kinds of information pertaining to high school basketball. This fact caught my attention: The number of girls' coaches ejected through Feb. 18 was ... any guesses? Answer: 21.
What about the number of boys coaches ejected through Jan. 14? Answer: 20.
I find facts like that interesting. I think the number added up for Highland County boys and girls varsity coaches is zero this season. Nice job, coaches, of keeping your cool.
So, with all of these tournament venues I've traveled to the past two weeks (Adena, Valley, Waverly and Southeastern High Schools), what about the schools have caught my attention?
At Adena, it was the 34 United States flags hanging from the rafters of their gym. At Valley, it is their hallway full of trophies that I looked at before I left. For Waverly, has to be the posters hanging on the gym walls of all their basketball players. I like the one with the team hanging above one of the entrances to the gym. Those posters catch my attention each year. At Southeastern, it is the color blue they have all around the gym. Also, their school is extremely nice. The hallway walk to their gym is just an awesome view, with history all around both sides of the hallway.
I'll be back at Waverly on Monday for the girls tournament, and on Tuesday I will watch two games at Valley for Division IV boys sectional games.
Speaking of tournament venues, here is where it gets interesting.
In the same Rebounder's Report, it has a question-answer type of deal. Here is one of the Q&A's that caught my attention.
"Question: Has any thought ever been given to playing on Home courts? Answer: There has, and discussion continues. Currently, regulations have prohibited playing on home courts in basketball tournaments."
I think at least sectional games should be played on a home court, or at least in one of the counties where one of the teams play.
Does it make any sense to have North Adams and Lynchburg-Clay play their sectional opener game in Pike County? Did I mention LC and NA are connecting counties, probably 30 minutes apart, if that. I know with the draw of the tournament, it's a short-notice thing where opponents don't know who and where they would play, but if playing football, volleyball, baseball, softball and soccer sectional games at a home venue work, why not basketball?
What about when McClain played Hillsboro in a sectional opener on Tuesday? That game was in Ross County. HHS and MHS are both from Highland County, about 18 minutes apart. Wouldn't that have saved a lot of money for everyone involved, and brought more money to the schools, if it would have been held at a home court? Let's be real, sectional games are played at a high school gym anyway, so why not just hold them at a home court?
I understand district games being held at a larger facility like Athens, that's fine, but sectionals are held at a regular high school gym. Plus, every team makes the tournament anyway, so why not just have the sectionals at a home court of the higher-seeded team?
Or why doesn't the Patriot Center hold sectional tournament games?
It is a great facility. It is a 2,500-seat capacity building and has hosted many high school games in the past, up until this season.
One of my favorite things about this year's tournament have been the crowds.
Though some crowds have been larger than others, I love the fact the fans have been into the games, giving the referees (rhymes with bell) and cheering their team until the final play. (Unless they wanted to beat traffic, which I understand. I hate getting stuck in traffic.)
Well, if you are reading this, I am probably either at a tournament game, planning to go to a tournament game or driving to or from a tournament game.
Either way, no matter if the games are at a home court, a Highland County facility, a neutral high school gym or at a Convocation Center in Athens, this time of year, though draining, is still a fun learning experience for everyone involved.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]