Letter: New 3 class system not all positive

There was a time I recall there being 254 Class B faculties in North Dakota. The present Class B boys’ basketball pc rankings lists 99 groups. Consolidation and shrinking scholar numbers have modified the panorama of highschool athletics, together with the power for a lot of faculties to discipline groups which are aggressive with friends. The transfer this previous week by the NDHSAA so as to add a 3rd classification to highschool basketball results in plenty of questions.

For many years the state Class B boys’ basketball event has been referred to as the “crown jewel” of North Dakota athletics. Has that been gutted with the brand new format? With extra regional and state tournaments, is the choice partly income based mostly? How will it have an effect on sport co-ops and journey instances for some groups?

The most important change will likely be within the new A division, so let’s focus there; For a very long time, a detriment for the present class A (the brand new AA) is with few groups, lots of the identical groups (yawn) find yourself in state event play yr after yr. With simply 30 groups, what will likely be that dynamic for the brand new Class A? We received’t want the time period Cinderella staff any extra because the cream of small city North Dakota battle it out. Beneath the format, every regional A champion mechanically goes to State. Then the second place finisher additionally will get an opportunity to go after which, oh yeah, should you end third in area, you continue to would possibly qualify for the state event. It seems to be just like the A classification is brief by 15 groups to make it what it ought to be.

Some longtime rivalries can even be misplaced. Even when a sport remains to be scheduled with an previous rival, with out competing in the identical class, the fizz will likely be gone from that bottle.

On this week’s Class B boys basketball ballot, 6 of the 13 groups garnering votes are groups that will likely be categorised within the new decrease class. Judging aggressive chances are a difficult enterprise. Most profitable groups depend on a few proficient courses coming alongside on the identical time, no matter stage. Possibly the state event winners of the brand new A and B must sq. off to see who the king of North Dakota small city basketball actually is.

Glenn Dahlstrom is a resident of Hillsboro, N.D.

This letter doesn’t essentially mirror the opinion of The Discussion board’s editorial board nor Discussion board possession.