New Era: Region Basketball Formats

With the conference era of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) behind us, basketball, as well as baseball, softball, soccer and other sports begin to resemble the football path to a state championship, where playoffs begin at the region level, then proceed to state tournament play.

Before breaking down how each region plans to run their tournaments (based on information sent to RVA Sports Network by Tournament Directors or posted by the VHSL), let's remind you of a few important things.

1) Each region can determine how their tournaments (boys and girls basketball) are to be held (number of teams, locations, etc.). Tournaments need to be completed by February 27. The State Tournaments are to begin on March 2nd.

2) The VHSL will not use "Super Sites" for State Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds as was the case last year. The Quarterfinals are March 2 and 3, the Semifinals March 5 and 6, and should be at higher seeds (i.e. Region Champion for quarterfinals, highest seeded quarterfinal winner in semifinals). All State Championship games are at the Siegel Center at VCU in Richmond.

3) This year, as in football, Region A and Region B will meet in quarterfinal action (B Runner-Up vs. A Champion in Richmond, Region A Runner-Up vs. Region B Champion in Tidewater). Winners play in the state semifinals, so, there's no chance of two teams playing in the same region meeting in the State Championship.

4) Regions can create their own formulas for seeding for their tournaments, so don't go strictly by current win/loss records. We will not attempt to do so unless we receive official standings from a region as the regular season winds down. Some regions, like Region 4B, will have all of their teams qualify, others only eight.

*****

NOTE: All following information covers both boys and girls tournaments for each region.

REGION 6B:

Quarterfinals: Monday February 19 at Higher Seeds

Semifinals: Wednesday February 21 at Higher Seeds

Championships: Friday February 23 at Higher Seed

REGION 5B (Top Eight Finishers Qualify):

Quarterfinals: MONDAY FEBRUARY 19 at BOYS Higher Seeds

BOYS:
Game 1: #8 seed at #1 seed, 7:45pm
Game 2: #7 seed at #2 seed, 7:45pm
Game 3: #6 seed at #3 seed, 7:45pm
Game 4: #5 seed at #4 seed, 7:45pm

GIRLS:
Game 1: #8 seed at #1 seed, 6pm at Boys Site TBD
Game 2: #7 seed at #2 seed, 6pm at Boys Site TBD
Game 3: #6 seed at #3 seed, 6pm at Boys Site TBD
Game 4: #5 seed at #4 seed, 6pm at Boys Site TBD

Semifinals:

BOYS: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, Meadowbrook HS:
Winner of Boys Game 4 vs Winner of Boys Game 1, 6pm
Winner of Boys Game 3 vs Winner of Boys Game 2, 7:45pm

GIRLS: Wednesday February 21, J.R. Tucker HS:
Winner of Girls Game 4 vs Winner of Girls Game 1, 6pm
Winner of Girls Game 3 vs Winner of Game Game 2, 7:45pm

Championships: Friday February 23, Meadowbrook HS

Girls Championship: 5:30pm
Boys Championship: 7:30pm

REGION 4B:

Play-In Game: Friday February 16, #13 seed at #12 seed

First Round: Monday February 19 (Top 4 teams earn byes):

Game 1: #13/#12 seed winner at #5 seed

Game 2: #11 seed at #6 seed

Game 3: #10 seed at #7 seed

Game 4: #9 seed at #8 seed 

Quarterfinals: Wednesday February 21:

Game 5: Game 1 winner at #4 seed

Game 6: Game 2 winner at #3 seed

Game 7: Game 3 winner at #2 seed

Game 8: Game 4 winner at #1 seed

Semifinals: Friday February 23 (at Higher Seeds):

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner

Championships: Monday February 26 (at Higher Seeds)

REGION 3A: Not Available

REGION 3B:

Quarterfinals: Friday February 16 at Higher Seeds

Semifinals: Tuesday February 20 at Higher Seeds

Championships: Friday February 23 at Higher Seed