Proposal would make 5A basketball for Southern schools only

Durango's Michael Bartlett (22) dunks the ball over Douglas' Reese Torres (33) throughout a kids class 5A state semifinal video game at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. The basket did not count as Bartlett was fouled before the dunk. (Erik Verduzco/ Las Vegas Review-Journal).
Big changes are on the way for Nevada high school basketball.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Realignment Committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday for Class 5A girls and kids basketball to be made up of only Southern teams for the upcoming two-year cycle.

Class 5A Northern kids and women basketball groups would fall to 4A and bet 4A Southern groups for state champions. The decision came at an NIAA Realignment Committee meeting in Reno that started the realignment process for winter season sports, which would enter into impact next school year.

Based on the NIAA's rubric points system, 11 kids basketball groups will comprise 5A: Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Durango, Coronado, Mojave, Las Vegas High, Desert Pines, Spring Valley, Arbor View, Silverado and Foothill.

Mojave, Las Vegas High, Spring Valley and Silverado would move up from 4A to 5A. Centennial, Canyon Springs, Palo Verde, Clark and Faith Lutheran would drop from 5A to 4A.

Class 5A Southern kids basketball groups are 11-1 in matches versus 5A Northern groups over the last 2 years. Of the 12 matches, just 2 were decided by 12 points or less.

In girls basketball, 13 teams would make up 5A: Centennial, Liberty, Coronado, Spring Valley, Bishop Gorman, Desert Oasis, Faith Lutheran, Shadow Ridge, Las Vegas High, Desert Pines, Clark, Palo Verde and Arbor View.

Las Vegas High, Desert Pines, Clark, Palo Verde and Arbor View would move up from 4A to 5A. Tradition, Foothill, Green Valley and Canyon Springs would fall to 4A from 5A.

At last month's 5A state tournament, all four Southern teams won their semifinal video games against Northern teams by a typical margin of 28.5 points.

A Northern kids basketball group hasn't won a state title in the leading division considering that 2008, and a Northern women team hasn't won because 2014.

The committee approved adjustment positionings for the other winter season sports - - fumbling, flag football and kids and girls bowling - - and playoff tournament formats for all winter sports.

Under the 5A basketball postseason format, eight teams would qualify for the playoffs.

In 4A, 12 teams would get approved for the Southern League playoffs. 2 4A Southern groups would receive the state competition when it is held up North, as it will be next year. 3 4A Southern teams will qualify when the state competition remains in the South.

Schools will have an opportunity to appeal their winter season sports positionings at a conference March 15. The proposed adjustment is still pending last approval from the NIAA Board of Control, whose next conferences are April 12-13.

Less than a week ago, the NIAA approved a high school football adjustment that would separate Class 5A into 3 divisions and add 2 state championships. The leading division, Class 5A Division I, is comprised of only Southern schools.

Postseason formats for girls and kids cross country, women golf, young boys and ladies soccer, young boys and women tennis and ladies volleyball were likewise approved at the meeting.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on Twitter.