4A GSHL sets up new format for district tournament play
The Class 4A Greater St. Helens League will have a different district tournament format for most of its team sports this school year.
The No. 1 seed from the regular season will be assured of one of the two bi-district playoff spots, but that top seed will have to play two contests in the district tournament.
Volleyball and girls soccer in the fall will be the first sports to use the format. Boys and girls basketball in the winter, as well as baseball, softball, and boys soccer in the spring will follow.
The top six teams of the seven-team 4A GSHL will qualify for district.
The top two seeds will earn first-round byes into the semifinals, while the other four teams battle each other to round out the final four.
Things could get interesting during the final four. If the No. 1 seed wins its first match, it is a normal tournament bracket.
However, should the No. 1 seed lose in its first contest, an extra game would be added to the bracket. The No. 1 still advances to the championship game, but the two other remaining teams play in a one-game playoff to reach the title game.
The championship game will determine the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds to bi-district.
