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Class AA Principals Approve Divisional Basketball Tourneys

Current system uses playoff games to see who goes to state tournament

By Molly Priddy
Bridger Johnson (20) boxes out Pat O'Connell. The Glacier Wolfpack eliminated the Flathead Braves 52-37 in a Class AA playoff basketball game on March 1, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

BILLINGS — The principals of Class AA high schools have approved a plan to hold divisional basketball tournaments, rather than playoff games, to determine which teams qualify for the state tournament.

The Montana High School Association’s executive board still must approve the move, but Executive Director Mark Beckman said he didn’t think it would face opposition. The board will take up the issue in September and, if approved, divisional tournaments would be held starting with the 2017-18 school year. The Class AA regular season would switch from 20 to 18 games.

Mark Wahl, the athletics and activities director for Billings schools, said they’ve been proposing the idea for the past four years in an effort to give more student-athletes the opportunity to experience a tournament atmosphere.

Officials say the previous concerns about switching formats were students missing more school and the travel and hotel expenses for another tournament weekend.

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