Video: Highlights of Desert Vista's Brandon ClarkeDuring the offseason each basketball section was given the opportunity to vote on whether to keep the sectional tournament leading up to the state tournament or do away with it.
All of Division I got rid of the tournament as did Division II, Section I, but every other section and division will still conduct the two- or three-day event starting Feb. 9.
Division I didn't extend the amount of games in the regular season, although some moved a few of their games to the week reserved for sectionals in order to stay sharp, while others will have about 14 days off between the end of the regular season and the first round of state.
The section champion — tournament or regular season champion — receives an automatic bid into the state tournament with a guarantee of a certain seed, regardless of their finish in the final power rankings.
So what path to the state tournament is the right one?
Like many things in life the answer is associated with how it best benefits the individual, but as the season winds down it is always a good time to reflect.
And history plays a part as well.
In the past teams have benefited by the fact that they didn't make the sectional tournament. For example, a team that finished fifth in the section missed out on the four-team event.
The fourth seed lost in the first round, lost power ranking points, while the team that missed out on the tournament and didn't play moved up in the power rankings simply because it wasn't good enough to finish in the top four of its section.
Desert Vista coach Tony Darden has an opinion about the sectional tournament, but not all coaches agree with him.
Photo by Mark Jones
"I think having a sectional tournament or region conference tournament like in past years is important and should be done if possible,"
Gilbert boys coach Jay Caserio said. "With that said I'm not sure if the games, won or lost, in the tournament are weighted correctly, if there is a right way.
"One year (2012) we didn't make the sectional tournament, had 15 days off before state tournament and actually moved up in the power point rankings where teams that did make it and lost moved down and were penalized."
The corrections have long been fixed, but the question of whether or not the games can still give a team a boost or hurt their chances from a pure momentum standpoint still exist.
Teams already high in the sectional standings and power rankings have a secure spot in the state tournament.
"We have moved two of our regular season games to fill section tournament week so we don't have it off and will be playing,"
Mesquite (Gilbert) girls coach Candice Gonzalez said. "I am glad we are not having a section tournament due to the fact that if we did, we could potentially play teams in our section up to four times by the time of the state playoffs. No one wants to play the same teams that many times.
"So, yes I am glad we do not have a section tournament."
Other teams like the
Sunnyside (Tucson) girls squad, which is third in the Division II, Section I standings, but sit at No. 36 in the power rankings, or the
Nogales boys team, which is third in D-II, Section I but No. 25 in the rankings, just might like that chance to earn that automatic bid should it get hot and win the sectional tournament.
There are others who are in good standing who just want to play. The athletes love to compete. Give them more games the happier they will be in the long run.
"I just want my kids to play games,"
Desert Vista (Phoenix) boys coach Tony Darden said. "The more games they get, the more chances they have to create memories. Years from now they are not going to remember running sprints, they are going to remember the games from their high school careers."
Thunder senior guard
Tarik Cool remembers losing in the first round of the Super Sectional last year before making it to the Division I state finals.
"I don't particularly care," he said. "I also think it might be better (without) because your ranking is based on your season record rather then having the chance to move up significantly off a single win."
Regardless of what coaches or players believe or where a team sits in the standings or rankings, one thing is always true.
"I wasn't a fan of sectionals being taking away, but every coach has their own opinion," Darden said. "I was in the minority.
"Either way we have to win games."
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic sports writer and current Prep Sports Director for 1013 Communications, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.
