IHSAA possibly adding a 1-class basketball tourney

[greasywheels121]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../504290536/1057

 

Add 1-class basketball tourney, House resolution asks of IHSAA

By Mary Beth Schneider and Pat McKee

 

The Indiana House approved a resolution Thursday that calls for a second state high school basketball tournament to be played each year.

 

The House approved, on a voice vote, a nonbinding resolution by Rep. Larry Buell, R-Indianapolis, asking the Indiana High School Athletic Association to stage a single-class tournament involving every high school. No timetable was given for the proposed tournament.

 

The event would supplement the multiclass state tournaments, in place since the 1997-98 school year, as a preseason or midseason tournament.

 

IHSAA commissioner Blake Ress said he was unsure what action, if any, his organization would take following the House's action.

 

"I wish we didn't need to do this," said Buell, a longtime foe of the multiclass tournament who believes the IHSAA has ignored the public's wishes and hurt Indiana high school basketball.

 

Rep. Jerry Denbo, D-French Lick, agreed with Buell's sentiment and said legislation was necessary because "when you have a group that is accountable to no one, it's our duty to get involved."

 

A resolution does not carry the weight of law. It is a means for the legislature to express its opinion on a topic.

 

Ress said it was premature to say if the high school governing body would act on the resolution.

 

"It's one of those things that sounds good, but when do you do it and how do you do it?" Ress asked. "We will look at it. But (the resolution) doesn't say if this is to be for boys or girls or both."

 

Jimmie Howell, coach of the Lapel team that won last month's Class A boys basketball state championship, said he was OK with the idea.

 

"There's nothing wrong with having both," Howell said. "It's not unlike what they do in Kentucky, although I like the way Kentucky does it with a class tournament over Christmas and a nonclass tournament at the end" of the season.

 

Other lawmakers agreed that this topic needed a legislative push.

 

Rep. John Ulmer, R-Goshen, said that "Indiana basketball has gone right down the tubes. I don't think that the IHSAA has listened to what the people want."

 

Buell's idea, he said, might re-ignite the passion in Indiana basketball.

 

Rep. Eric Turner, R-Marion, said he believed this year's high school tournament was exciting, drawing big crowds. But, he said, Buell's proposal doesn't take anything away from the multiclass tournament and may add more excitement.

 

Steve Witty, executive director of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, would like to see a return to the single-class tournament.

 

"I think a majority of people don't want (the multiclass tournaments)," said Witty, a former coach at Ben Davis. "But the IHSAA is a principals' organization, and the principals voted it in."

[southsider2k5]

I hope they do something. No one cares about the state tourney anymore... The problem is it might be too late.

[Nokona]

...People live in Indiana?

[southsider2k5]

...People live in Indiana?

Yeah, and we are all related.

[WilliamTell]

When I saw this I was thinking Iowa and first, guess I forgot there are 3 other states that start with I.