SECTIONAL TOURNAMENTS (WHY ?)

[datchillicav]

Some sectionals may be hard to get out of but the reality for nearly all sectionals in nearly all sports is that they are pretty much meaningless. WHO CARES? I will speak only to what I know the specifics of but in the D2 SE boys sectional 2 or 4 teams make it and there are only 11. Thats like being awarded some kind of honor for being 3rd in your league or something. We have all seen a TON of sectional champs(maybe even the occasional district champ) who is totally undeserving of being called a "champion" of anything. Winning a "championship" should be special and hard to attain in my opinion.

[warriorfrosh]

Why all the effort to diminish the kids accomplishments in athletics...its about the kids and is a reward for a long season...in reality yes it is but the first step towards a greater goal but for a team that has struggled for a few years winning the sectional will have meaning...the sectional is part of the structure and traditional of ohio basketball....so it is what is..just leave it alone

[bman]

^ because this is an extension of everyone gets a trophy mentality. winning one game to be a "sectional champion" is nothing special. frankly, finishing second or third in a league with a 12-to-14-game league schedule is more impressive because there is an actual body of work and success for more than one game.

and for programs who do struggle, having success at the tournament will be celebrated rather there is a "sectional title" next to it or not.

the idea of a sectional championship comes from the era when there were eight teams in a sectional, not two or four. winning three games in a bracket with some size in the tournament deserved some recognition. the closest thing to a sectional title now is a district title - usually takes three to four games to win. that's why most people around ohio consider success at the district, regional and state levels for the consistent programs.

[VIKED_MAN]

bman, you make good points and I appreicate your opinion.
I just see it the other way, and it looks like thoughts are about 50/50 on this issue.
I guess the sectionals have changed so much because the schools have changed so much.
When I was in school Vinton County was usually in a sectional with Nellsonville-York, Belpre, Fed Hoc, New Lex, Warren etc., but now all of these schools 'cept New Lex & Warren are smaller than Vinton County due to divisions rather than the old "A" "AA" "AAA" format.
I for one enjoy the sectional atmosphere, especially the SEO D II's, they are usually very competitive.
GO VIKES

[bman]

^ I don't want to rain on everyone's parade but it seems sometimes we in southeast Ohio set our bar too low in terms of tournament success, and that's one of the reasons we somestimes struggle against other districts at times. We are just happy to be there.

Some sectional play is good and some is not so good. It depends on matchups.

[FANOSPORTS]

^ because this is an extension of everyone gets a trophy mentality. winning one game to be a "sectional champion" is nothing special. frankly, finishing second or third in a league with a 12-to-14-game league schedule is more impressive because there is an actual body of work and success for more than one game.

and for programs who do struggle, having success at the tournament will be celebrated rather there is a "sectional title" next to it or not.

the idea of a sectional championship comes from the era when there were eight teams in a sectional, not two or four. winning three games in a bracket with some size in the tournament deserved some recognition. the closest thing to a sectional title now is a district title - usually takes three to four games to win. that's why most people around ohio consider success at the district, regional and state levels for the consistent programs.

I'll drink to that.

[warriorfrosh]

Guess I've been convinced....the sectional championship title is not too important....IMO if you ask most kids they are excited about winning the sectional, but only because it allows them to play on in the district, not because they bask in the glory of that title...

[Out of Bounds]

I don't think kids are playing for trophies, especially the seniors. It's about survive and advance and continuing your high school career. It's the "One and Done" mentality. I myself don't mind sectionals, especially if watch how the seating goes and teams like Portsmouth and North Adams like two years ago get matched up just because of the voting and nobody wanted to face them. I like to go travel and watch the good match ups, not the 1 vs. 8!

[drrabbit]

Tournaments have to start someplace.

A sectional championships is very desirable to any team that did not win one that season. That championship puts you in approximately the top 35% of the teams in the state.

The Wheelersburg vs. Oak Hill sectional finals game was the third match up of the season last year for the two teams but I think it was anything but boring.

[bman]

No one is advocating eliminating any games preceeding district play, rather one calls them just tournament games or sectional games. The argument is the importance of a "sectional title''. Does winning one tournament game deserve a trophy and cutting down the net or does it just deserve the fact that you've qualified for district tournament play and get to go to the Convo.

[Out of Bounds]

bman, I can see and respect your opinion and I'm guessing you may be from a school that has had a lot basketball success. I can tell you that not all schools have success as frequent as others and it is a huge deal for the school, kids and community to win a sectional title. As far as cutting down the nets.....I don't think every location that hosts a sectional does that. As far as trophies, why not? They are kids and for some it's they're last hoorah, and it's a good feeling either way. I for one am probably not a big fan of trophies either. I would think the satisfaction of accomplishment, moving on and extending the season would be enough, but hey they are kids....let them enjoy it!!!

[happycamper]

The DIII sectional at Jackson had great games with some great teams and ask the Wheelersburg kids how happy they were to win the Sectional.

[Crab's Brother]

I understand where bman is coming from, but the Sectional tournament is what is great about high school basketball.

Coach Lisath talked about the memories he has from the sectional tourney. Coach was a huge part of two of my best high school memories. When Jeff was the coach at Unioto in 99-00 and 00-01, we (Valley) battled them in two great Sectional Championship games. We beat them at the buzzer my Junior year. Myself and the other starters, all of whom are still my very close friends, still talk about winning that game and the intensity of the crowd and the atmosphere that night in Waverly. Jeff's Unioto team beat us my Senior year in another great game. Great memories were made in those Sectional games in Waverly.

This year's Valley-Portsmouth game was just another example of how great the Sectional Tournaments are for high school hoops in Ohio.