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From the Sports Deskwith Carey Phillips |
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The N.C. High School Athletic Association's Realignment Committee held its first full meeting last week.
As far as Western North Carolina goes, only one change was made from the alignment proposed in January by the NCHSAA staff. The change involves Avery, which was granted a request to play up from 1-A to 2-A. The Vikings were placed in a conference with Brevard, Madison, Mitchell, Mountain Heritage, North Henderson, Owen, Pisgah and West Henderson. That could be bad news for Smoky Mountain when it comes to non-conference scheduling. The Mustangs had made clear from the beginning that they hoped to keep Pisgah on the schedule as a non-conference opponent in most sports. Now the Bears will have eight conference football games. It's a given that they would play Tuscola, and they would like to play Enka. The only way to fit SM in would be to play an 11th game. Even then, both schools might not be able to work out an open date. The Mustangs remain in a nine-team 3-A league including Asheville, East Henderson, Enka, Erwin, Franklin, North Buncombe, Roberson and Tuscola. The area's four non-football playing schools - Blue Ridge, Highlands, Hiwassee Dam and Nantahala - are in an 11-team 1-A conference with Andrews, Cherokee, Hayesville, Murphy, Robbinsville, Rosman and Swain. If that conference plays each opponent twice, that would mean 20 league basketball games. Only one or two non-conference opponents would be possible for the football playing schools. In fact, an appearance in a three-game Christmas tournament would preclude any other games against non-conference teams. That could mean bad news if Smoky Mountain wants to play any schools from that conference. Along with Avery, schools allowed to play up in classification are Fayetteville Smith from 3-A to 4-A and West Columbus and South Robeson from 1-A to 2-A. Perhaps the most interesting news to come out of the meeting was the decision to grant Ashe's request to play down from 3-A to 2-A without restrictions. During the current alignment, no schools are playing down in class. In previous alignments, the only way to play down was to not be eligible for the state playoffs in two straight years. There's no doubt that if any school in the state has a geographic hardship it's Ashe, which is totally isolated from other 3-A schools. If the decision holds, the NCHSAA could be setting a dangerous precedent in allowing a school to play down without restrictions. The most obvious concern for our area is Reynolds, the only 4-A school from Buncombe County west. In the current alignment, the Rockets are in the Mountain Athletic Conference along with five 3-A schools, but they qualify for the 4-A playoffs. That deal is apparently not going to be offered this time around even though it would make perfect sense for Ashe. We've said time and again that Reynolds did not deserve the preferential treatment it received four years ago. It appears the NCHSAA won't allow the same deal this time even though the complaining continues from the Rockets. A recent television report stated in the 4-A conference Reynolds is assigned to the Rockets would have an average bus trip of an hour and a half. From 1985-89, Sylva-Webster/Smoky Mountain was in a conference with the closest opponent an hour and a half away by bus. Reynolds isn't going to get any sympathy from here. The Rockets continue to use the bogus excuse of safety as their reason for not wanting to join a 4-A league. Never mind that their trips down I-40 would be much safer than many schools across the state, especially those in Western North Carolina, have to make. Reynolds sure didn't hesitate to make the trips down I-40 for the state playoffs. I guess their euphoria of being in the post season overcame any safety concerns. The next step in the realignment process will come June 13 when a final draft is developed. Appeals must be filed by Oct. 1. Appeals will be heard Nov. 28 with the new alignment finalized Nov. 29. Let's hope somewhere along the way no one caves in and gives Reynolds special consideration. |
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