If someone was to do this level of statistical work on SC, MAYBE, the SCHSL, might, on an off chance, if the stars are lined up, might think about this subject.
The evidence is clear as well as the circumstances in SC, and NC.
I wish you luck, playing up hill is never fun. Since we play in AAAA, we just get Mauldin, Dorman, Spartanburg, etc etc every year, fun fun fun...
The same argument could be made for Greenville having soccer in middle schools and Spartanburg having football. The relative dominance of the respective county to which sport it supports in middle school says volumes. Spartanburg just ignores Title IV and kicks butt in Football.