AHSAA new alignments put PCA hoops in higher classification

Jason Roberson and PCA basketball are moving up to Class 4A beginning next season. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Prattville Christian Academy basketball coach Jason Roberson already knew he was moving up to Class 4A because of the Competitive Balance Factor. He just wasn’t sure what group of teams would fall in his area.

Roberson and the rest of the state learned their future on Tuesday as the Alabama High School Athletic Association approved the winter sports alignments for the 2022-23 and 2023-34 classification period via a teleconference meeting.

PCA and Decatur Heritage (now 2A) were the two private schools affected by Competitive Balance, with the PCA girls earning enough points (eight) to move both the boys’ and girls’ teams up from 3A to 4A. The Panthers will now compete in 4A Area 5 with BTW Magnet, Dallas County and Wilcox Central. 

“Here at Prattville Christian, we’re just excited for a new challenge, moving up to 4A,” Roberson said. “We embrace the opportunity that is before us. We’ve always been one that we’ll play just about anyone just about anywhere.

“We’ll still play a lot of those teams (from the old area alignment of Trinity, Montgomery Academy and Catholic), it just won’t have the same intensity because it won’t be an area game. There won’t be as much riding on the game, although I’m sure our kids and their kids will compete like crazy. I think it’s a good thing. I like something that’s new, something that’s different. I think it’s a great opportunity for our kids, both girls and boys.”

The areas won’t come as much of a surprise to most coaches because the fall sports realignment gave them a look at both regions (football) and areas (volleyball). But LAMP boys’ basketball coach Robb McGaughey learned that each sport has its own rivalries. LAMP volleyball is in an area with Dallas County and Wilcox Central, while basketball, given the same opportunity, landed in Area 4 with Catholic, Booker T. Washington and Bullock County. 

“I thought we were going to be in (Area 5),” McGaughey said. “But we weren’t totally shocked. We kind of bubbled it in, that we could go this way. I’m good with it. I think it’s going to be a competitive area, for sure. I’ve played all those schools at other places.”

In 6A, the local schools are split into two groups, with Carver, Lanier, Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka in Area 3 and Park Crossing, Pike Road and Russell County in Area 4.

In 5A, the local schools are split among three areas, with Tallassee joining Beauregard and Valley in Area 7. Elmore County, Holtville and Marbury will be in Area 6 and Brew Tech will be joining Demopolis and Selma in Area 5.

In 3A Area 6, Catholic and PCA were replaced by St. James and Alabama Christian, creating a four-team area that includes Montgomery Academy and Trinity. 

In 1A, longtime county rivals Autaugaville and Billingsley were split into separate areas, with Autaugaville joining Calhoun, Central-Hayneville and Ellwood Christian in Area 5 and Billingsley joining Loachapoka, Maplesville, Notasulga and Verbena in Area 7.

Basketball wasn’t the only sport getting new alignments on Tuesday. 

In indoor track, six private schools were moved up in classification by Competitive Balance Factor, while three others remain elevated. Among the six moving up is Catholic, which was in 1A-3A and will now move to 4A-5A (along with Mobile Christian, Providence Christian and Westminster-Oak Mountain). 

In wrestling, to create balance based on number of schools participating, the Central Board approved reorganizing the current three divisions into four divisions for championship play – from 1A-4A, 5A-6A, and 7A to Class 1A-4A, Class 5A, Class 6A and Class 7A. Wrestling has seen significant growth among member schools in the last four years, especially in the southern half of the state.