High school basketball to create 'Final Four' feel

CHAPEL HILL — Problems experienced at this past season’s NCHSAA state basketball tournament has led to a change in the way the final two rounds of the tournament will be held beginning with the 2023-24 season.

The new policy, which was voted on and passed unanimously at last week’s NCHSAA meeting, has the NCHSAA holding all state semifinals and state championships at a single location over the course of six days. 

Semifinal games will be played Monday through Thursday with the state championships on Friday and Saturday.

The semifinals for the East and West in boys and girls basketball would be held for a single classification on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with games being played at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. State championship games would be played on Friday and Saturday at noon, 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The NCHSAA noted they've had issues finding facilities large enough to hold basketball playoff events, particularly in the state semifinals. This past year, crowds exceeded the limitations some venues could hold, and in at least one situation, fans who purchased tickets to a game were unable to gain entry.

NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said at the basketball state championship press conference that it was "not the NCHSAA's finest hour."

The NCHSAA has spent many hours since the past tournament researching how other states hold their state tournaments and revamped their schedule for the upcoming season.

The Eastern Randolph High School boys advanced to the championship of the state 1-A tournament this past year.