For the last few years, I’ve watched the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoff format for football, basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball.

I compare the AHSAA to the Mississippi High School Activities Association, where I spent 26 years covering football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, track and softball.

The only differences are soccer and track. None of our five public schools field soccer teams, and track is mostly known for high placing individuals and relay teams. Sorry track coaches, I’m just keeping it real here.

While the football playoff format is similar, the top four teams in regions qualify for the postseason. You won’t hear complaints from me, I love it.

My grievances came with baseball and softball in Mississippi, unlike the Alabama format.  Four teams advance in basketball, based on how they finished in the regional. In the past, three teams reached.

The former sports editor and I at The Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald often disagreed on high school sports issues, but we agreed over this one. You have four teams in divisions for baseball, softball, three make the postseason. The division winner gets a first-round bye.

We always asked, “How could you spend two months eliminating one team?” For me, I always thought: just have an area tournament where the top two teams advance. 

Dallas County, Keith and Southside softball teams are excellent examples of my theory surviving the tournament and making the regionals. Both boys basketball teams at Southside, Selma, Keith and Dallas County survived area tournaments through the years and reached the regional round.

I can still see the Selma High girls basketball team being 18-0 and ranked in the Top 10, but coach Wil Morgan is not satisfied. 

Of course, I received countless emails from coaches and fans about us complaining about the MHSAA format. “The best team always wins,” they would say.

I no longer work in the Magnolia state, but I still prefer the Alabama way. And the reason is not because I live in Selma. The system works better for me.