Classification of Private Schools

[costanza]

And that may go back to my point in another thread about the idiotic theory about first round games. I know Jeannette isn't a huge distance from Johnstown, but some fan bases won't travel

[Crimson's Ghost]

Exactly, the first round is tough since the "higher" seed gets a virtual home game in a lot of cases.

[X3pointer]

 Why dont the PIAA use  The IUP Fieldhouse ? both teams in the Vincentian Saltsburg  Game had to drive through Indiana to get to  Central Cambria . 

[CMM52]

Just to put things into perspective, when looking at only the remaining teams (96) on the boys bracket this is how it breaks down...

96 total teams left

58 Public Schools

29 Private Schools

9 Charter Schools

Now when you look at just A and AA which makes up the bulk of our local districts it's easy to see why someone could think the problem is bigger than what it really is. Of the teams remaining in A you have 6 public, 8 private, and 2 charter. In AA you have 7 public, 7 private, and 2 charter. AAA it breaks down the same, 7 public, 7 private, 2 charter. So even looking at those numbers you don't see private schools dominating the entire field.

When looking at the entire field that is left public schools make up 58 of the 96 teams (or 60%) left in the field. This goes to show what I've been trying to point out. Maybe there is an issue in some areas of the state, but it doesn't mean that the problem exists when looking at the bigger picture.

In regards to attendance, I think the location and presence of charter schools is largely to blame for that. Charter schools carry 0 fan base even though they make up a relatively small number when you look at the whole field. I think the 6 classifications will balance this out though. In classifications 4A-6A, of the 48 teams that are remaining 38 of them are public schools. So if everyone on here is correct in saying that only public schools draw out the large crowds, the largest of the public schools make up the bulk of the field in these classifications and should carry the largest crowds.

Last reason why the PIAA isn't going broke, now that we have 6 classifications there is an insane number of games being played now. So for every small crowd that comes out to see their team play it's replaced by all the additional games we are now playing due to moving to 6 classifications.

I stand firm on what I say. Stop looking at just your local area, to determine a "problem". Look at the bigger picture...

[CMM52]

 Why dont the PIAA use  The IUP Fieldhouse ? both teams in the Vincentian Saltsburg  Game had to drive through Indiana to get to  Central Cambria . 

I think that probably has to due with venue fees.  I'd imagine IUP would charge a good amount to use the facility.  Don't know this for sure, but I'm guessing that is why. 

[12HankQB]

Go back through the last 15 years of AA and A Boys/Girls Champions. It doesn't matter if there's 8 public and 8 private, if one of those private schools is the Cleveland Cavs, it's game over.

[12HankQB]

GIRLS A
2016 - Cardinal Wuerl
2015 - Vicentian
2014 - Vicentian
2013 - Vicentian
2012 - Steelton-Highspire
2011 - BG
2010 - BG
2009 - BG
2008 - Marian Catholic
2007- BG
2006 - Nativity BVM
2005 - Serra Catholic
2004 - Monessen
2003 - BC
2002 - BC
2001 - Kennedy Christian

GIRLS AA
2016 - Neunann-Goretti
2015 - Neunann-Goretti
2014 - Seton Lesalle
2013 - Bishop Canevin
2012 - Seton Lesalle
2011 - Villa Maria Academy
2010 - Villa Maria Academy
2009 - Villa Maria Academy
2008 - York Catholic
2007 - York Catholic
2006 - York Catholic
2005 - Delone Catholic
2004 - Delone Catholic
2003 - Delone Catholic
2002 - Vicentian
2001 - Trinity

[12HankQB]

BOYS A
2016 - Kennedy
2015 - Constitution
2014 - Lincoln Park
2013 - Vaux
2012 - Constitution
2011 - Math, Civics, & Science
2010 - Sewickley Academy
2009 - Girard College
2008 - Serra Catholic
2007 - Reading Catholic
2006 - Elk County Catholic
2005 - Bishop O'Reilly Auto Parts
2004 - Bishop O' O' O' Reilly
2003 - Scotland School
2002 - Scotland School
2001 - Kennedy Christian

BOYS AA
2016 - Aliquippa
2015 - Conwell-Egan
2014 - Constitution
2013 - Beaver Falls
2012 - Imhotep Charter
2011 - Imhotep Charter
2010 - South Fayette
2009 - Imhotep Charter
2008 - Jeanette (Terrelle Pryor)
2007 - Prep Charter
2006 - Prep Charter
2005 - Beaver Falls
2004 - Sto-Rox
2003 - Trinity
2002 - Bishop Hannan
2001 - Trinity
Boys AA is where things start to even up, but Girls A & AA is laughable along with Boys A.

[abpk2903]

After reading 5 pages of back and forth on this topic, here are a few thoughts. I kinda sit on both sides of the fence:

1) For some reason, a few have made the comment that Public to Private/Charter transfers are rarely athletically based. This may be true but when they are the impact is HUGE. If BG gets a good basketball player from Williamsburg, it could be the difference between a 18-2 season for Williamsburg and a 7-13 season. On the flip side, that could be just enough to push BG over a public school in the PIAA playoffs. So just because athletic transfer are relatively rare, they have a massive impact on the overall competitive balance of PIAA sports.

2) If we are being honest with ourselves, high school basketball is quickly becoming obsolete. I would bet 80-90% of D1 scholarship players receive their scholarship offers from AAU or some other traveling circuit performance. If anyone has a few hours to kill over this snowstorm, watch some of the AAU documentaries on Netflix. AAU brings in tons of money and they do it basically over a 4-5 period between May and September. How long until they realize they can makes 2, 3, 4X as much money if they simply squeeze out High School basketball and have camps year around?  Most D1 prospects are electing to have any surgeries or treatments they need done over the winter so they can be ready for the summer circuit. What does that tell you about how high school athletes view interscholastic sports?  Baseball is going the same direction. Football will probably be saved by the fact that parents are smart enough to know they can't have their kid playing football games 120 days throughout the year (like the AAU circuits have many basketball players playing).

3) public schools could fix this problem themselves. Co-op, play up a class, or merge school districts and you will get out of the classifications with most private/charter schools. If you are graduating 20-30 students a year, you probably shouldn't expect to be winning state titles as a public school.  I've harped on here for years about he dire need to merge school districts around the D5 and D6 area. If you require state subsidies for just about any program you offer, then Pennsylvania should force your district to begin consolidation plans.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Not sure if High School basketball is growing obsolete. AAU gets a lot of attention since its during the college basketball offseason and that's when the coaches are free. College coaches still watch high school basketball.