What's Next? Classification Realignment + CWOSSA Tournament

RIP, AAAA classification (2002-15).

We're heading back to three (A, AA, AAA) classifications effective next year.  So, congrats to the Resurrection Junior Girls, Grand River Senior Girls, and SJAM Junior & Senior Boys who will go down as the final "AAAA" champs in CWOSSA history.

As we move forward to next year, I can't help but think of what "could" happen with regards to the re-alignment, and the CWOSSA tournament as a whole (actually, I'm kind of excited - hence the post).

With 60+ schools in the CWOSSA region, simple math would suggest that the three divisions would all have in the neighborhood of 20 teams.

Current CWOSSA policy dictates the following structure for CWOSSA tournaments:
Under 16 Schools = 4 Team Tourney
16-18 Schools = 6 Team Tourney
19+ Schools = 8 Team Tourney

You would figure that we're heading for an 8-team tournament, but seeing the annual excitement of NCAA conference tournaments makes me (greedy) for, say, 10 or 12 teams being invited to the dance.  Downside of this, of course, is additional logistical challenges (referee costs, gym availability, etc.).

Anyways, teams would (should) be seeded, and then it could look something like this:

Preliminary Round - Hosted at School Sites
(10) vs. (7)
(9) vs. (8)

(Winners Advance to Main Bracket)

Championship Round - QFs (Single Elimination)
(8/9) vs. (1)
(5) vs. (4)
(7/10) vs. (2)
(6) vs. (3)

I believe we saw the first-ever "OFSAA Style" 8-team bracket with this year's AA championship, where first-round winners played first-round losers in the second round.  With teams not being seeded, but "placed" into the bracket, this was a necessity to protect the integrity of the tournament (i.e. if two potential finalists were placed against each other in the opening round).

While this is a possibility, I would like to go back to the ranking system and a "single-elimination" tournament --- you could even give, say, the top seeds byes through to the semifinal round, as certain conferences do in their tournament.

Anyways, there's a couple things I'm asking for hoping that we'll see with these changes:

1.  More Teams at CWOSSA
As mentioned above, shouldn't be an issue given CWOSSA's current regulations.  We should be getting at least 8 teams, though I wouldn't mind seeing more, of course.

2.  Seeded CWOSSA Tournaments
Yes, I realize the additional time and energy spent by organizing committees on this.  I'll gladly volunteer, as I'm sure some other media/coaches/volunteers would as well.

In today's day and age of social media, we could even have some sort of "unveiling" of the bracket.

3.  Fair Representation
By this, I mean that the CWOSSA tournament should give flexibility for Wild Card entries so that the best teams can be represented at CWOSSA.

What if SJAM had lost their semifinal game to Grand River (I believe it was a 3-point game with under :30 to play)?  Allowing wild-cards would solve an issue of one of CWOSSA's top teams being eliminated in the league playdowns.

Also, it would allow flexibility depending upon league strength.  Over the past two decades, we've seen the following scenarios:

1.  My (WCSSAA) junior team that I played on went 13-0 in league and won the playoff championship.  We were the #5 seed in the 8-team CWOSSA tournament (a testament to the strength of Guelph & Brantford during that time).

2.  Last year, the D8 junior league had 3 of the top 4 teams overall in CWOSSA.  Of course, only one team (SMHS) advanced out of the league.

3.  WCSSAA, of course, has had their years of strength, too.  I believe in 2005, WCSSAA teams (4 in the 8 team AAAA tournament) were ranked #1 through #4 at the event!

Such is the cyclical nature of high school hoops, and here in the CWOSSA region in particular.

Anyways, it'll certainly be interesting, and something to keep an eye on over the next few months!

What are your thoughts?  Feel free to tweet me (@CWOSSABball) or shoot me an e-mail.