Is an open division coming to state basketball?

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The fact 17 of the 20 schools competing at this weekend’s state basketball championships are private schools have people thinking about the ramifications.

And Pete Saco, commissioner of the Sac-Joaquin Section, told the Sacramento Bee that he endorses a plan to add an open division to the existing state tournament, putting all the top private and public schools in a division to fight it out.

Here’s his interesting comment: ‘Is it a level playing field? Not even close. Other teams deserve a chance to win, the public schools. Some may not like the idea of a change to the current playoff format, but I’m at a point where I don’t care. We as an organization have to worry about losing contact with the general public. They’re not going to come anymore if this keeps up.’

-- Eric Sondheimer