You simply cannot tell me that a team that went 13-1, outright won the Smoky Mountain Conference and defeated the defending state champions twice this year, is a No. 8 state playoff seed.
Yet, here we are.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association has already made enough of a mockery of the 2020-21 sports calendar. From limiting attendance in spacious gymnasiums – 25 fans, while bordering states, such as Georgia, allow as many as can fit, just as long as spectators socially distance – to trimming the number of regular-season games, the association has consistently robbed both players and fans alike the comforts other seasons have had.
But the greatest act of thievery occurred Sunday. Teams across North Carolina sat on the edge of their seats, waiting to see how the postseason bracket would shake out. With another questionable decision by the association looming – cutting the number of playoff teams from 64 to 32 in each classification – the breakdown was finally posted around 2 p.m., and affirmed two hours later.
Conference champions were filled in via a “random” draw – but after the way the field mapped out, I personally would love to see a video that shows the looks on the faces of the bracketing committee when the association’s No. 8 seed went to the Robbinsville Lady Knights.
Let’s look at the facts:
* The Lady Knights is ranked No. 3 in the 1A classification on MaxPreps, once the main supplement for how postseason brackets were filled out.
* Robbinsville defeated Murphy – the defending 1A state champions – twice this season: once to the tune of 67-53; the other, 67-50. The Lady Bulldogs ended up with a No. 13 seed.
* The No. 3 seed – Hiwassee Dam – lost 60-28 to the Lady Knights earlier this year.
* The low seed means that Robbinsville will have to travel for the second round to face the No. 1 seed – East Surry (12-0) – today. The Lady Cardinals were responsible for ending the Knights’ season last year – coincidentally enough, in the second round.
But, this is the hand Robbinsville has been dealt. And that’s ok, because the Lady Knights will press forward and take the fight right to East Surry.
The notable improvement this team has made since last year is something the Lady Cardinals will no doubt be prepared for … but not as prepared as they thought.
When the No. 8 seed knocks off the No. 1 seed in the second round tonight – yes, my optimism is high – social media will blow up. Raleigh-based, “statewide” sports outlets – who only comment on western North Carolina athletics when it comes playoff time – will tout the importance of the victory, without giving Robbinsville the in-depth coverage it has earned.
That will come later.
This is the Lady Knights’ best chance at a state championship in recent history. Let’s just hope the “luck of the draw” has not ruined their odds.
Kevin Hensley is the publisher/editor of The Graham Star. He can be reached via phone, 479-3383; email, editor@grahamstar.com, or on Twitter, @KevinHensleyCNI.