The Reward of Hosting Your Regional and the Motivation to Win Districts.

Written Sunday March 5th at 10:30 AM

When Athletic Directors put in for regionals to the MHSAA and it’s granted. They tend to feel that their team can get to the regional where they would host.

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.

It’s very rough for the losing team in districts and knowing that their opponent is heading to your regional in your own gym.

The reward for some schools is that they get to host their regional.

Lake Orion, Macomb Dakota, Coldwater, Dearborn Fordson, Frankenmuth, Yale, Saline, Sandusky, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Dansville, Petersburg Sumfield, Athens, and Kingston will host their respective girls basketball regionals and their team are playing in their regionals throughout the State.

The common theme is that each of these teams won their district in an opposing gym. That is the biggest motivation is to host their own regional.

Rochester, Detroit Cass Tech, Grosse Pointe North, Redford Westfield Prep, Detroit Edison, Dearborn Divine Child, Hart, West Iron County, Oscoda, Grass Lake, Dansville, Hanover-Horton, Blissfield, Riverview Gabriel Richard, New Lothrup, Fowler, Petersburg Summerfield, Gaylord St. Mary, Au Gres Sims, St. Charles, Fruitport Calvary Christian, Climax Scott, and Athens all won girls basketball districts on their home floors.

It happens in any sport.

Having home court this late in the season is very important. Those teams are familiar with the gym and the surroundings. Now all these teams won’t make it past regionals but that feeling of playing at home is very rewarding to those who have gotten this far.

Like I said before, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t that's the bottom line.