This year in UIL high school sports, two state champions will be crowned in Class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A for basketball; two for Class 2A-6A in baseball, softball, and volleyball; and two for Class 4-6A soccer. Football already has split division titles based on the big school vs. small school format.
The new playoff system allows for size consideration while keeping district membership the same. As in the previous system, the top four teams, at the end of district play, advance into the playoffs, with the two largest schools of the four, regardless of record, assigned to Division 1 while the two smaller-sized teams are placed in the Division 2 tournament. Playoff Bracket
Practical application …
Kennedale at 12-0 won District 4A/12 followed by Life Waxahachie, Venus, and Alvarado. Applying the new playoff format, Life Waxahachie and Alvarado based on enrollment were assigned to the Division 1 bracket while Kennedale and Venus went into Division 2. The winner in each division will be awarded a UIL state championship trophy.
Last year 128 teams in Class 4A played in two brackets for a state title. This year 64 teams in each division will vie for state titles.
Six rounds of play …
64 teams start Round 1 Bi-district, 32 teams advance to Round 2 Area, 16 teams enter Round 3 Regional Semifinals, 8 teams play Round 4 Regional Finals, four teams play Round 5 State Semifinals, and two teams vie in Round 6 State Finals.
Round 4 Game details …
Kennedale (30-7) has won Rounds 1, 2, and 3. The Wildcats will play the Sanger High School Indians1 (27-6) in Round 4 (Regional Finals) this Friday night, February 28 with the tip-off at 7:30 pm. The game will be played at Lewisville High School.
Eight teams remain and it gets considerably harder …
#15 Krum (25-9, 13-1) vs #2 Canyon Randall (31-5, 14-0) – the winner plays in state semifinals against the winners – Sanger (27-6, 8-4) vs #12 Kennedale (30-7, 12-0)
#7 Houston Yates (23-6, 15-3) vs #8 Houston Wheatley (26-7, 16-2) – the winner will play in the state semifinals the winner – #12 La Marque (38-2, 14-0) vs Wimberly (27-9, 8-2)
