SOC (Basketball) going to 3 (6 team) divisions (2023-24)

[baseball16]

Only thing from a competitive standpoint would be switch Notre Dame and South Gallia.

[HERO]

Notre Dame doesn’t want in the middle conference

NW and Oak Hill should be really happy to be out of the big school division

There are going to be crossover games for all sports except football

[VetteMan]

Wheelersburg
Waverly
Minford
Valley
West
South Webster

Oak Hill
Northwest
Eastern
Western
Symmes
South Gallia

New Boston
East
Clay
Notre Dame
Green
St Judy

I’d personally Swap green for Symmes Valley. They’re pretty decent most years.

This one seems to be pretty fair for everyone.

[The Ghost of Swanker]

Wheelersburg
Waverly
Minford
Valley
West
South Webster

Oak Hill
Northwest
Eastern
Western
Symmes
South Gallia

New Boston
East
Clay
Notre Dame
Green
St Judy

I’d personally Swap green for Symmes Valley. They’re pretty decent most years.

This one seems to be pretty fair for everyone.

Taking the bottom of the SOC2 and top of the SOC1 for a Goldilocks division

[art_vandelay]

Props to Webster AD and administration for opting to stay up with the big boys. Yeah, won’t be very many conference championships for Jeeps. But this is a built-in competitive advantage for Webster come postseason play. Plus they keep the big ticket gates from playing these schools.

Also interested to see what teams are eventually added to SOC. If they can get football divisions fixed, this is a win-win for entire conference.*

[GoIrish]

My understanding is that these new divisions will be for volleyball (starting in 24), boys and girls basketball, baseball, and softball (those 4 starting in 23). School likes Eastern have zero business going against the likes of Wheelersburg in things like softball and baseball.

Football conferences will remain the same.

[bbjunky81]

I agree on all points. This seems to be the best for everyone from a competitive standpoint. South Webster is somewhat of an outlier in the top division but they produce winning teams more consistently than Oak Hill and Northwest so it makes sense.

South Gallia in the middle might have a little struggle competing, but they were open for it.

Competition wise the restructure makes total sense and still gives each team 12 out of conference games to add old foes/rivalries and other matchups they deem worthy (For example, I'd imagine South Webster and Valley will keep Oak Hill, Northwest, and Eastern on their schedule for at least 1 game each season).

[transplant]

I agree with the above.

[Bmoc616]

I agree on all points. This seems to be the best for everyone from a competitive standpoint. South Webster is somewhat of an outlier in the top division but they produce winning teams more consistently than Oak Hill and Northwest so it makes sense.

South Gallia in the middle might have a little struggle competing, but they were open for it.

Competition wise the restructure makes total sense and still gives each team 12 out of conference games to add old foes/rivalries and other matchups they deem worthy (For example, I'd imagine South Webster and Valley will keep Oak Hill, Northwest, and Eastern on their schedule for at least 1 game each season).

I don't know if SG was really open to it or if they got stuck in the middle b/c of their size.

[The Ghost of Swanker]

Good chance for Webster to beef up the schedule with some other D2/3 teams. And drop East hopefully

[bfry]

Trips to Western, Symmes Valley, and South Gallia. Yay.

[transplant]

But a chance to win the league most years. Would love to see Northwest be more competitive year in and year out in basketball and stay with Valley, Minford, Burg, etc. Maybe if Waverly decides to leave for the FAC (Rumor at this point) NW can move up?

[The Ghost of Swanker]

But a chance to win the league most years. Would love to see Northwest be more competitive year in and year out in basketball and stay with Valley, Minford, Burg, etc. Maybe if Waverly decides to leave for the FAC (Rumor at this point) NW can move up?

Isnt Northwest just a hair under D2?

[transplant]

But a chance to win the league most years. Would love to see Northwest be more competitive year in and year out in basketball and stay with Valley, Minford, Burg, etc. Maybe if Waverly decides to leave for the FAC (Rumor at this point) NW can move up?

Isnt Northwest just a hair under D2?

Probably.

[mattash]

Did all the schools agree to this? Or was this more of a force

[jujubean]

SOC tweeted that "As in the past with two divisions, each division is based on school size." However, like in the past, that is not true. Valley and South Webster are considerably smaller than other schools in their division. Northwest and Oak Hill will be much larger than schools in the mid-tier.

The divisions were selected based on past competive teams - just call it what it is.

I'm fine with Valley and South Webster staying in the top tier. Just don't say it's based on enrollment. It may be very loosely based but that wasn't the determining factor.

Also, I thought football was the driving force behind a realignment where enrollment numbers truly matter. I'm not sure what this accomplishes - I don't think the middle division will get much respect.

[bbjunky81]

SOC tweeted that "As in the past with two divisions, each division is based on school size." However, like in the past, that is not true. Valley and South Webster are considerably smaller than other schools in their division. Northwest and Oak Hill will be much larger than schools in the mid-tier.

The divisions were selected based on past competive teams - just call it what it is.

I'm fine with Valley and South Webster staying in the top tier. Just don't say it's based on enrollment. It may be very loosely based but that wasn't the determining factor.

Also, I thought football was the driving force behind a realignment where enrollment numbers truly matter. I'm not sure what this accomplishes - I don't think the middle division will get much respect.

I totally agree on all your points. My only guess in terms of your last paragraph is that perhaps realigning all the other sports now could potentially lead to an easier path to adding schools / realigning football in the future? Not too sure.

[BigBlueNation]

But a chance to win the league most years. Would love to see Northwest be more competitive year in and year out in basketball and stay with Valley, Minford, Burg, etc. Maybe if Waverly decides to leave for the FAC (Rumor at this point) NW can move up?

Isnt Northwest just a hair under D2?

No middle of the pack. D3 is 120-194 Northwest is at 160. The next count they'll probably drop to D6 in football along with West.

[The Ghost of Swanker]

Western and Beaver are also quite a bit larger than us

[jujubean]

Enrollment figures, not adjusted for competitive balance.

Waverly 240
Wheelersburg 176
Minford 167
West 160
Northwest 160
Oak Hill 147
Valley 122
Eastern 109
Symmes Valley 94
Western 93
South Webster 86
South Gallia 75
Green 66
Clay 52
Notre Dame 48
East 41
New Boston 40
St. Joe 15