Rethinking School Sports: The Case for Unified Championships

Let's Get One   This morning I was doing some research and I came across an article that had two different rankings in it. One was based off strength of schedule and the other was a combination of strength of schedule and success   Though this company did great work in achieving this information, it made me wonder, are some schools dodging competition to put themselves in position to have better seeds in the standings? I mean I guess I would do it if I had the chance, but a lot of teams seem to be either going out of their way to not play competition or teams aren't willing to play them because they are scared. We need to fix this.   In my opinion, we don't need six different champions in our state. We need just one. Similar to the NCAA. We have talented girls in 1A that could compete with 4A girls and private schools girls that can compete with public school girls. I mean just think about how electric a game would be if everything was on the line. Think about the different story lines. How everything would mean more.   Now I'm not even going to pretend how to bracket all this stuff. I'm just merely stating the fact. In order for us to get the best of the best playing against each other, we got to do away with these classifications and throw all winners in one big tournament. Then there would be a true champion for sure who can honestly say they went through a gauntlet of teams to reach the mountain top.    Here are a few matchups for example that would be huge story lines .   Joya Craford vs. [player_tooltip player_id='290719' first='Harmonie' last='Ware']    Joya is a multi level scoring threat who is a reigning champion in her class. The Cincy signee has been tearing it up on the west side of the state, leaving all opponents by the wayside. Her squad is set to make another run and in doing so she is leaving her mark along the way. This kid is tough, gets it done on both ends. There is a reason why she is going to UC. She brings it nightly.      May not get as much pub as she should but the Arkansas signee is one of the most well rounded players in the state. A two way player who can knock down shots from multiple spots on the floor, then turn around and impact the game on the defensive end. She has speed, great change of pace, and shines in clutch moments. Her team is set to win a third championship in a row.    [player_tooltip player_id='821641' first='Haylan' last='Ayers'] vs. Dria Biryk   (Yes, I know they are in the same travel ball organization. This would be a fun matchup though.)Just think about the matchup these two would have if they had to guard each other. The Ohio State signee vs. the up and coming star of the game. Technically, we could see this matchup happen as they are now in the same division.      As you all know she is one of the best if not the best in the state. Sophomore kid who uses her size and length to wreak havoc on the floor. This kid can knock a shot down from anywhere and turn around and defend like crazy. Her body of work just keeps getting better. Has one championship under her belt, but is poised to bring home many more.     I keep trying to figure out who I could compare her game to, well, tah dah, I figured it out. Add her size and length into the equation she plays like Kevin Durant. Just like KD, this kid can pull it from multiple spots on the floor effortlessly. She is going to take whatever the defense gives her. She can create, has great court awareness, and can contribute in multiple ways in every facet of the game.    Laila Downs-Darden vs. [player_tooltip player_id='409017' first='Ella' last='Ryan']   The vet vs. the next   Both of these young ladies know how to put the ball in the hole. They do it differently, but they find the bottom of the net at a consistent clip. It's been hard to stop both. Slow them down, maybe. Either way, this is a tough outing for opponents and would be a tremendous matchup seeing them both on the floor going at it.    The Quinnipiac signee is a scoring machine. Can get it anyway from anywhere and does so at a high clip. She has a keen understanding of how to exploit a defense and does so cool, calm, and collectively. Will also get down on the other end and compete as well. She's out to be the best and will go at the best.     She's coming on strong and her game speaks volumes. This kid can fill it up, but it's the other things she does well that opens up her scoring opportunities. She's great in the transition game, solid defender, overall a hungry individual who just competes.    [player_tooltip player_id='513229' first='Faye' last='Williams'] vs. [player_tooltip player_id='821620' first='Lauren' last='Hassell']   This matchup would be interesting. Both are very skillful but I just like the lunch pail mentality that both bring to the table. Both have size. They have similar skills sort of speak, but the way they attack the game and their opponents makes this a very interesting matchup.    She's a unicorn in that she can do all things. Handle it, shoot from all 3 levels, grind inside, rebound, I mean I can name every intricate part of the game and she is and can do it. This kid is an X factor and she comes to dominate the competition.     She too can impose her will on other teams. She can attack facing up, knock down shots on the interior, contribute in the physicality part of the game, and just compete. She too is on the boards and pretty much makes people around her better. Her energy and effort sets the tone for others to follow.

Let's Get One