slice60

There are ONLY FOUR PEOPLE TO BLAME for this terrible decision & unfathomable disrespect to a man who has dedicated most of his adult life to teaching & coaching the young people of LaPorte. Blame the 4 (out of 7) school board members who voted NO to the recommendation from AD/Principal/Super to hire Bob James as HC.

I guess I didn't finish my thought. For the programs (8 schools across 5 sports) who moved up in 2021-22 & earned 1 point (won Sectional) in the higher class this school year, the IHSAA is going to keep them in that higher class for 2022-23 & then adjust accordingly. I assume that means the IHSAA will bump that program down to their enrollment class for 2023-24 if they do NOT earn 1 or more points in 2022-23. Sooooooooooooooooo, Mr IHSAA, I have to ask.........if you're going to commit to some wait & see mid-cycle downward adjustments, WHY NOT ALSO DO THAT FOR THE OTHER PROGRAMS WHO JUST MOVED UP FOR 1 SEASON BUT DID NOT EARN A POINT IN 2022-23??? I have not looked at the other sports yet but in football, there is ONE SCHOOL who benefits from this questionable decision-- CHATARD & their 15 state titles.

Yes, I can explain it. The IHSAA crapped the bed. Here is how Chatard has fared in the last 25 years (22 of 25 years in 3A, except where noted). Chatard has won the 3A state title in 13 of 22 tournaments over the past 25 years. If that doesn't scream MOVED UP DUE TO SUCCESS FACTOR, I do not know what does. 97-State Champ 98-State Champ 99-Lost in Sect (Roncalli-State Champ) 00-Lost in Sect (Heritage Hills-State Champ) 01-State Champ 02-State Champ 03-State Champ 04-Reg Champ (Andrean-State Champ) 05-Reg Champ (NorthWood-State Champ) 06-State Champ 07-State Champ 08-Reg Champ (Bellmont-State Champ) 09-Reg Champ (West Laf-State Champ) 10-State Champ 11-State Champ 12-State Champ 13-moved up to 4A, won Sect (Andrean-3A State Champ) 14-moved up to 4A, lost in Sect (Tri West-3A State Champ) 15-State Champ 16-Lost in Sect (FW Concordia-State Champ) 17-Sect Champ (Ev Memorial-State Champ) 18-Reg Champ (West Laf-State Champ) 19-State Champ 20-State Champ 21-moved up to 4A, lost in Sect (Gibson So-3A State Champ)

We're all guessing here (unless someone has insider info from the IHSAA) so I will share my guesses too. Guess #1 - The IHSAA will place each team into their class for the whole 2-year cycle for the 2022 & 2023 football seasons. There will be no mid-year Success Factor cycle changes (for teams like Chatard, WeBo, LCC or Southridge, Pioneer) if they do not earn the 1 or 2 points in the 2022 season. Guess #2 - As others have pointed out, Southridge & Pioneer will probably be kept up for another this upcoming 2-year cycle after earning just 2 points over the past 3 seasons. Using that same logic, I believe Chatard, WeBo, LCC (just moved up in 2021) should stay up because they each earned more than 2 points over the past 2 seasons, even though the 2020 season was in a lower class. Even though the Success Factor is based solely on 2-year cycles, part of my rationale is based upon those schools extraordinary level of success throughout the years-- 15 state titles for Chatard, 8 titles for LCC, 4 titles for WeBo (3 straight in 18-19-20). And actually, WeBo may be the best example why these teams should remain up for the '22 & '23 seasons-- 1pt '17 + 4pts '18 = stayed in 2A, 4pts '19 + 4pts '20 = up to 3A. 0pts in '21 playing up in 3A. IMO there's no way that a team who won 3 straight state championships should ONLY spend 1 year in the higher class before being moved back down. Same goes for Chatard & LCC with their 23 combined state titles.

All 3 schools should stay up for the next cycle, IMO.

The CYO system is a huge advantage. Not only do those kids play together for many years but they are able to learn the same offense/defense as the HS program while being taught excellent fundamentals. That said, broadcasters always talk about the great Center Grove youth program in the same way. Pioneer too, I think. Maybe towns/public schools have built great youth programs thru Pop Warner or USA Football which led to sustained success at the HS level-- but it takes a ton of work.

From 2010-12, 4 private schools swept the 4 smallest classes & won three-peats-- LCC 1A, Luers 2A, Chatard 3A, Cath 4A. The Success Factor was instituted in 2013 & has had an impact. For those 4 schools, only Cathedral got past Regional in the higher class as they won 5A for the next 2 years. From 2013-2020, nobody else has pulled off a three-peat except WeBo (public school). I also think that it was a smart move to keep bumped-up programs in the higher class if they earn 2 or more points. Cathedral won Regional in 2017, lost in Sectional to runner-ups Decatur Central in 2018 but stayed up in 5A due to that change. In 2019, they lost to state champs New Pal in Regional & then cruised to the state title this year.

Article is from the prep sports guy Kyle Neddenriep. I think he is really good.

https://www.indystar.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fhigh-school%2F2020%2F11%2F22%2Fihsaa-football-playoffs-private-schools-dominate-2020-state-finals-indiana%2F6381840002%2F Are there any Indystar subscribers out there who would be so kind as to copy-paste this article to the forum for cheapskates like me??? Please & thank you!

No shot clock needed.

Finally... https://ihsaa.org/Portals/0/ihsaa/documents/about ihsaa/minutes/2019-20/011620.pdf?ver=2020-01-20-155604-767 Proposal #5: the IHSBCA requests that each tournament host site (sectional through state finals) have a person designated to track the pitch count for both teams in each scheduled contest. This position will keep written or digital records and communicate with the coaches and umpires each inning to confirm pitch counts for both teams. This position will also mandate (through the umpire / crew chief) the removal of a pitcher once their pitch count limit has been exhausted. The head coach will certify the availability of each pitcher prior to the start of each tournament level; records will be kept throughout the tournament to track pitch counts; ensure proper rest is observed; and, at no time, allow an ineligible pitcher to enter the game or remain in the game. These records will be available to member school head coaches, athletic directors, principals, and IHSAA personnel upon request. A motion for approval was made by Jim Brown; seconded by Martin Brown; motion approved 15-4 with Chris Conley, Chad Gilbert, Victor Bush and Ed Gilliland opposed.

Valpo vs Merrillville just got even more interesting. Maybe we will see 2 DAC squads at LOS next fall.

My friend is a basketball referee who is working his way up the ladder. Currently, he does alot of girls games along with some boys JV/Frosh, etc. Last month, he told me about a varsity 1A girls game that he worked. 44-7 at the half. You might think that the winning coach would use the 2nd half to get some varsity experience for his younger players? Nope. Even though they had 12 players dressed, the winning team went with a 7-player rotation until only 3:30 remained in the game-- then he put 3 of the bench players in to finish. 2 of his own players didn't play at all...in a 89-23 game. So in many cases, sportsmanship is totally up to the coaches in basketball. Some are good at it, some are not.

Looking at the Girls BB scores from last night (January 8th), 37 games were played...23 of them ended up with a margin of 24+ points. Time for the GBB contraction debate to begin in earnest...

Roncalli has had several major incidents recently. But religion is all about faith so the Roncalli families will continue sending their children there & use that faith in the belief that the school gets their act together. Glad my nephew is a commoner who goes to Franklin Central.

Congrats to Dave Sharpe (former Slicer HC) on landing the Noblesville head job.

Congrats to Dave Sharpe (former Slicer HC) on landing the Noblesville head job.

Quality schools with top-notch programs who have trophy cases full of State Championship trophies (in any sport) tend to attract great athletes in that sport. That's just human nature.

Outside of 6A, any team that earns 6 points in the 2-year cycle (2019-2020 football seasons) gets bumped up to the next highest class. So if New Pal wins Regional next season, they move up to 6A. Similarly, if LCC / WeBo / Chatard / Ev Memorial win a Regional or better next season, they move up 1 class. So there is a chance that 2 programs (New Pal & EvMem) will move to a class 2 levels above their enrollment. Actually, FW Dwenger (as Regional champion this season) would do the same if they win 5A next year.

No. Might as well just have a MIC Tournament & a separate 6A non-MIC tournament.

Or maybe he is referring to Carmel's 2nd string (enormous enrollment slam!)

After that fantastic comeback to beat the Brickies, I have to go with East Noble over Ev Mem 30-27.

Chatard 42 HH 16

WeBo 28 Eastbrook 26

Lutheran's talent will overcome LCC's experience -- Saints win 35-20.