With the better record, why does Wando have to go on the road? Why aren't the Upper and Lower Championships for both boys and girls played at a neutral site?

It doesn't go by overall record, just region rank. If two teams of equal region rank (in this case, two #1s) end up playing each other, then the predetermined bracket decides which team gets to host. As it happens, RB's side of the bracket was designated as Host this year if two equal region ranks played each other. That part of the bracket was decided long before playoffs started or final records were submitted.

When’s the last time Wando hosted a lower state championship? Just like in 3A, defending champ Berea (who hasn’t lost a game in 2 years) travels tonight for their upper state championship game

You do realize how stupid that sounds, right?

You must be new to all of this. Trust me, we ALL agree that many things are odd, weird, or as you say stupid. Sadly, we have a governing body that moves slowly and only listens to voices that are profitable. The only way we are able to get changes made, is to have EVERYONE complain / offer suggestions, then and ONLY THEN do we get a look.

Can't necessarily say going by record would always be the answer either; it would tend to reward the teams with the easiest schedules. Don't think anyone questions the quality of the Wando team, but the same rules have to apply to everyone across the board. Bottom line, it's a simple and efficient way to make things happen, with the only number anyone has to look at being region rank. Nothing about a playoff bracket is ever going to be perfect; some things are luck of the draw. How far a team goes can be a product of what regions/teams they happen to be matched up against in the opening rounds. In 4A girls, for example, three of the top 4 ranked teams in the state had to play each other BEFORE reaching Lower State, but these brackets are set before the first game of the year is played with no way to tell for sure which teams will be filling them.

Simple and efficient doesn't equal fair or equitable. That is the problem. HSL needs to let everyone in at ALL levels, seed teams at ALL levels and then let the top 10 or so seeds get byes. Make the tournament a week longer so that the CONTACT sport of soccer only plays 2 games a week (like basketball, even though it is not a contact sport). Top team on bracket is home team regardless of seeding, like the NCAA. You beat a higher seed, you have earned the right to a home game if you are on the top line. Take bids from all 3 areas of the state (Upstate, Midlands, Coast). Winning bid hosts for 3 years. Rotate state semi-finals and final. Bid money goes to the state.

While you are at it, eliminate OT and PKs in regular season. End in a tie, it's soccer. Otherwise, during football line up the field goal units and kick best of 5 with the defense on the field from 35. Team with the best kicker wins.

Neutral site for Upper/Lower Championship provides one solution. Seed each group 1-16. Forget the Region seeding Going based on record is better than predetermined before the season starts. But, this is the organization that mandates the use of the Rawlings ball.

The teams from last night and tonight play 4 games in 8 days. Does that make any sense?

That is my point. Add in the fact that weather normally causes games to be played back to back. Let everyone in. Seed. 2 games per week.

Agreed.

This Wando v River Bluff game is a good watch. 5 min in and it's been physical with 1 chance per team.

Do what they do in the 1A and 2A ranks. Seed 1-16 in a meeting at season end, 16 team upstate, 16 team lower state. Forget the region crap, it’s irrelevant.

And while you’re at it put it on a grass field with one set of lines on it.

Yeah the turf this weekend was taking in so much heat. Plus one game you can tell for a few moments the players and officials forgot what line to play.

I couldn't agree more. Let's take the best 16 teams in the upstate and the lower state. If it works for lower A and AA it can work for the rest of the classifications. But for that to work we need the ADs and principals on board to put some pressure on the SCHSL.

It really comes down to the coaches drafting a proposal that they agree on and finding an AD and Principal to propose it to the SCHSL in order to get the change enacted. The process generally takes a year -- introduce over summer, get AD/Principal endorsement in fall for introduction to change, and voted on in spring by AD/Principals to put in place for the following school year.