The Executive Committee of the Indiana High School Athletic Association voted on June 23, 2022, to make a significant change to the format of the annual boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball state tournaments.
The group of school principals and athletic directors voted 15-2 to make the regional round a single game and the semi-state round a two-game format beginning with the 2023 tournaments. The previous format of a two-round regional and a single-game semi-state had been in place since 2002.
During the spring of 2022, IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig conducted a survey of principals, athletic directors, boys’ basketball coaches and girls’ basketball coaches. In that survey, 73.4 percent of 781 respondents voted in favor of the change. Also, at least 70 percent of each group favored the change.
Regional pairings will be drawn and announced at the same time as the traditional sectional pairings with two regional championship games being played at the same site and potentially from different classes.
Another new wrinkle includes conducting an additional blind draw and announcing the semi-state pairings the day after the regional championship games on IHSAAtv.org.
“We really like the potential of a high-energy atmosphere at the semi-state level with a chance to advance to the state championship games the following week at Gainbridge Fieldhouse,” Neidig said. “This new format doubles the number of teams that play a week longer in the tournament, should create a lot of excitement in those communities and financially will be beneficial for the communities that serve as host sites.”
In August, the IHSAA followed with announcement of sites for regional and semi-state games. They are listed below.
Girls’ Regionals on Feb. 11, 2023, two games at each site:
- Class 4A – LaPorte, Marion, Decatur Central and Columbus North
- Class 3A – Jimtown, Bellmont, Greencastle and Charlestown
- Class 2A – Winamac, Lapel, Southmont and Crawford County
- Class A – Caston, Wes-Del, Southwestern (Shelby) and West Washington
Girls’ Semi-States on Feb. 18, 2023 (assignments to be made on Feb. 12, 2023):
- North – LaPorte, Huntington North, Logansport and Frankfort
- South – Jasper, Greencastle, New Albany and Shelbyville
Boys’ Regionals on March 11, 2023, two games at each site:
- Class 4A – Michigan City, Logansport, Southport and Seymour
- Class 3A – South Bend Washington, New Castle, Greencastle and Washington
- Class 2A – North Judson, Lapel, Greenfield-Central and Southridge
- Class A – Triton, Frankfort, Martinsville and Loogootee
Boys’ Semi-States on March 18, 2023 (assignments to be made on March 12, 2023):
- North – Michigan City, Elkhart, Logansport and Lafayette Jeff
- South – New Castle, Southport, Seymour and Washington
IIAAA considering five-class proposal
In a separate item, the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association is pondering whether it may propose a switch to five classes in the sports of baseball, softball, volleyball and basketball.
The exact details of their plan are not yet set, but they are looking at proposing a five-class system where the number of schools would be based on enrollment – but not necessarily a near-equal number of teams in each class. Rather, their plan would be based on enrollments and the number of teams in each class could be different.
Their proposal could be something like this.
- Class 5A – schools with 2,000 or more students
- Class 4A – schools with 1,101 to 1,999 students
- Class 3A – schools with 576 to 1,100 students
- Class 2A – schools with 301 to 575 students
- Class A – schools up to 300 students
Varsity coaches: If you have not received a survey about this already, please look for one soon. And please complete the survey once you receive it.
Depending on the results of the survey, the IIAAA may make a formal proposal on this topic at the IHSAA annual Board of Directors meeting on May 1, 2023. The results of that meeting would determine if this proposal would pass and, if yes, when it might be implemented.
