INDIANAPOLIS – The IHSAA announced changes to the boys and girls basketball state tournaments Thursday.
The IHSAA Executive Committee made up of school principals and athletic directors voted 15-2 to make the regional round one game and the semi-state round a two-game format. The new format will be implemented next season.
Regional pairings will be drawn and announced at the same time as the traditional sectional pairings with two regional championship games being played at the same site and potentially from different classes, according to the IHSAA press release.
The new format also includes an additional blind draw that will be done the day after the regional championship games on IHSAAtv.org.
“We really like the potential of a high-energy atmosphere at the semi-state level with a chance to advance to the state
championship games the following week at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Pacers and Fever,” Neidig said. “This
new format will double the number of teams who play a week longer in the tournament and should create a lot of
excitement in those communities and will be financially beneficial for those communities that serve as host sites.”
Tournament host sites will be approved by the Executive Committee later this fall.
