Hoops season expands to 22 games

Added games will allow for flexibility when it comes to scheduling.

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 10:44 PM Sunday, June 12, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — The prep boys and girls basketball season will expand from 20 games to 22 for the 2012-13 season.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association last week approved a proposal from the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association during its June board of directors meeting by a 5-4 vote.

Kenton Ridge High School and Athletic Director Kris Spriggs, who also serves as the District 9 director for the OHSBCA, said the increase puts Ohio in line with other states.

The OHSBCA has proposed the increase for at least eight years, Spriggs said. He surveyed the coaches in District 9, and said the split was “probably 60-40” in favor of the increase. District 9 has 51 schools in seven counties, all of which play different league schedules.

“It gives schools the option to add two additional games,” Spriggs said. “I have a feeling people will schedule them. But it gives schools a little more flexibility in their schedule.”

The length of the season, however, won’t change — which could be a problem given inclement weather and gym availability. At smaller schools like Catholic Central and Cedarville, which have just one gym for both high school and middle school teams, the change will make things tough on athletic directors.

“It’ll be great, but it could also be a scheduling nightmare if we run into bad weather,” said Catholic Central boys coach and athletic director Dan Shay. “I like the idea of playing somebody different.”

Also, the teams aren’t required to play 22 games. It also leaves the possibility of teams playing in the tournament late in the season to get another regular-season game in against a quality opponent to help prepare for their next postseason game.

Two more games will also bring added revenue to the schools.

“It’s a positive,” Spriggs said. “It gives the schools the flexibility to schedule the games if they want to.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365, mcooper@coxohio.com or  on Twitter @SNS_Wizard.

State games

The difference in games played by state champs:

Michigan: Boys Class A (big school), Kalamazoo Central (25-3).

Indiana: Girls 4A (big school), Jeffersonville (28-2).

Kentucky: Boys, Christian County (25-9).

Ohio: Division I boys (big school), Cin. LaSalle (26-2).

Ohio: D-I girls, Twinsburg (27-0).

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