Semifinal pairings based on records, not rankings
In a perfect world, Sam Houston coach Ralph Barreras would not have to prepare to play against the state’s No. 1-ranked team in the state semifinals. Similarly, Atascocita coach David Martinez would have not have to work up a game plan for the team ranked No. 2.
As it stands, however, Houston’s two best teams will square off in the Class 6A semifinals. No. 1 Atascocita (37-0) and No. 2 Sam Houston (34-4) must play Friday night at the Alamodome for a chance to play in Saturday’s state boys championship game.
From a rankings point of view, it makes sense Atascocita and Sam Houston would be placed in opposite semifinals, but that’s not how the University Interscholastic League operates.
When determining state tournament pairings, the teams with the best winning percentages are placed in opposite semifinals. Then a coin flip determines their opponents from the other two teams.
Sam Houston may be higher ranked than No. 4 DeSoto (34-2), but it has two more losses and the same number of wins. That means DeSoto, which opens against No. 14 Cibolo Steele, was given a reprieve from facing either Houston team.
Barreras would not have minded dodging Atascocita on Friday but noted he is not viewing the draw as a negative.
“That’s the way (the UIL) has always done it, and that’s the way they’re going to always do it,” Barreras said. “We can’t control it. At the end of the day, you have to win two games to win a state championship.”
The 6A boys pairings are the only ones out of 12 boys and girls draws this year in which the two highest-ranked teams face off in the semifinals. For instance, in the boys 5A and 4A tournaments, the state’s top-ranked team will play an unranked team in the semifinals.
The UIL does not use rankings to determine state tournament pairings, but that could change if a proposal is made to the legislative council.
If that never happens, the highest-ranked teams could continue to have their semifinal opponents determined by a random draw. Martinez said that’s OK because it usually does not matter who the opponent is once a team gets this far.
“At this point, all four teams have to be really good,” he said. “It’s not easy to get to the state tournament.
“They’re there for a reason.”