I'm not exactly sure what you are saying but I think I agree. Maybe a play-in system where the 4 seeds play each other would be better.
Your point about the smartest path to stay in the playoffs longer also applies to Region IV. The 4 seed has a chance to make it to the third round while the 3 seed has less of a chance to make it past Wando in the first round. So should a Region IV team consider throwing a game or two to finish 4th instead of 3rd?
The other side of this is that #1 Wando has to face a tougher team in the first round (say Dutch Fork or Blythewood) than in the second or third round. What if one of them knocks them out in the first round rather than in a later round? Is that desirable?
Regardless of the "you have to play them sometime" comments, I think we all want to hang around as long as we can in the playoffs.
