Hwy17

They did, AHP 35 PV 33

Check that, AHP's ball. Looks like they can run the clock out.

This 5a title game is a good one! AHP 25 PV 33 with a minute or so left, PV's ball

Agree! Pahokee could beat the George Jenkins and Lake Region type teams, not the Lake Gibson type teams.

Lake Placid - A really small town that has next to no resources, no tradition, and a winning season like once in every 20 years. Bradenton Bayshore - Early in the school's history they were good but years of losing and sharing the talent pool with 3 other nearby schools, nobody wants to go there. Bradenton Lakewood Ranch - Following Bayshore really quick. My friends in Manatee say the school has lots of problems, and it shows with their athletic programs. Englewood Lemon Bay - For one the county line splits the town, so those on the north side can, and often do, choose to go to Venice. Not the worse program in Florida, basically has a good team every four years and then has to start over. Arcadia DeSoto - Was one time a powerhouse. Could easily be again. Probably the most political job in the state. How the coach there now has lasted as long as he has is an achievement in itself. BTW, look at all the other coaches that have been there and gone on to success elsewhere.

From what I've seen over the years, moving up in classification is typically approved. Its when asking to be moved down that gets blow back. I believe the rule is, or was, if the student count changed was less than 10% you can stay in the same class without having to move up provided travel or some other hardship is shown.

Maybe its just a school board policy in some counties?

What's your playing background? Coach in a youth league a couple of years, then JV a couple of years. I believe in Florida you have to be a school employee or teach to be a head coach but anyone can be an assistant.

Last year I felt like Braden River was ever bit the equal to STA as far as the starters went, but going down the depth chart, STA clearly had the advantage. Also, in big games like this, STA has a clear advantage because they have been in big game situations before. I expect a similar outcome as last year's game with Braden River, an overall close game but STA should be expected to win.

Pretty much. I can't remember a year where at least one team from Miami-Dade didn't win a championship. Back when there was only 6 classes, the entire south region for the old 6a (now 8a) was entirely in Miami-Dade. Here's something to think about: Take the population of Polk County, add it Broward County, and it still wouldn't equal that of Miami-Dade.

A win over a category 4 team is worth 35 points; a loss to a category 1 team is only 30. Do you schedule the powerhouse team you might lose to or go schedule the average team that somehow got in the playoffs and you feel good about being able to beat? See my post above.

I'm curious to see if Moor Haven stays the only public school in 2a or opts to go 1a

Something to think about - A non-playoff team with a winning season like Palmetto or Sebring is now worth less points than an average team that made the playoffs like Frostproof or Southeast due to bonus points.

When you think about it, it is similar to how the NCAA determines the college basketball playoffs. In college basketball, conference champs are in, and points are used to determine position and who else gets in.

Hopefully no more 3 team districts. I do think that points can be used for positioning, so the district champ with the highest points will be #1 seed and get the #8 seed in round one.

Well since we age going to allow open transfers, I think there needs to either be (1) a limit placed on the # of transfers allowed in, or (2) play up in class. When a school gets additional athletes that they wouldn't have otherwise had because they transferred there for the sole purpose of playing ball, that is compromising the purpose of why classification was created.

My understanding is that if you are district champs, you are in the playoffs regardless of record or points, and will be seeded no lower than 4th seed with home field in round one. The points are used to determine the remaining teams in the playoffs.

Perhaps they are getting enough transfers this year?

Division 1 and Division 2 ? I though we have that now in the form of classification? Or, do you mean a division 1 and division 2 in each class? People complain that there are too many classes now. My answer to the problem is not well liked.

Broward - to answer your second question, what I'm afraid is going to happen now that open transfer rules are in place, is that in places like Tampa, Fort Myers, or Orlando, is that one program will attract all the top talent and breeze through the season until the finals when they play a team from SFL. Now who will it be and how long will it last that one program will dominate will depend on how well that program works the system or some one else comes along and beats them at it. We are getting close to that now.

And why don't they get that talent anymore? Might want to ask those in Brandford?

5a is basically the old 3a. After winning 4 straight state titles in the 1980's, Live Oak Suwannee was slapped with probation by the FHSAA and had to forfeit some of their games from 1990 season. Funny stuff going on.

Since you ask - I remember when small towns like Avon Park, Frostproof, Live Oak, and Bartow use to dominate. Although some of that "funny stuff" I was talking about use to be associated with the later two. In this day and age, these kind of programs are basically lucky to win a district title and out in the early rounds.

Brings to mind a conversation I had with a now retired coach. Since I don't have his permission, I won't use his name. We talked about how some great coaches who have won year after year with their respective programs but never seem to when the big one, while a few seem to win championships time and time again. He told me he knew most every coach in this state and basically said the really great ones fall in to two groups - those who win because of hard work, discipline and developing players, and those who win at all costs.

I'm not accusing any team of breaking any rules, but there sure is some funny stuff I've seen happen over the years.