Sub-State Injustices

Basketball postseason is quickly approaching, so that means it is time for my annual “the KSHSAA Sub-State system is flawed” rant.

I am going to start out with the biggest problem and that comes out in Class 3A Boys Sub-State in Conway Springs. Wichita Collegiate is the defending champions in 3A and have not lost to a 3A team since the 2007-2008 season. The Spartans are the top ranked team in Class 3A by the Kansas Coaches.

Also in the Sub-State are the second-ranked and 15-1 Douglass Bulldogs. One of these two teams will not make the state tournament. They are each putting up similar numbers with Collegiate’s scoring average this year is 69.6 points per game while only giving up 44.6. Douglass scores 63.3 points per game and gives up 46.8.

The likely sub-state championship game in Conway Springs likely should have been reserved for the state championship game.

The East Boys regional is similarly stacked. Two teams get out in Class 6A and 5A, Top-Ranked Heights will be favored to advance, but Wichita Southeast will likely be on the Falcons side of the bracket and the Golden Buffaloes are the only City team to beat Heights this year, so that game could be very interesting.

Likely on the other side of the bracket will see Wichita East and Derby locking horns. They are ranked eighth and sixth by the coaches respectively.

The local 5A Girls Sub-States are both brutal as well. The Andover Regional has top-ranked Andover Central, third ranked Bishop Carroll and sixth ranked Andover. Andover and Carroll will likely play for a spot in the state tournament.

In the McPherson Regional, fourth ranked Emporia, sixth ranked McPherson, ninth ranked Newton and 10^th ranked Salina South will all take the court.

These are just the local examples. IN 4A boys, top ranked Basehor Linwood will have to get through third ranked Kansas City Sumner to make the tournament. At Topeka Hayden, second ranked Hayden must deal with fourth ranked Clay Center.

Something needs to be done. I have always been a fan of seed the teams one through 32 or 64 and playing it out college basketball style, but that may not be the answer. What do you guys think? Is there a way to make sure the top teams at least have a fair shot at making the tournament?