Great Northwest Basketball League (GNBL)

 

 

 

7th Grade Participants

 

 

 

Special Instructions to Teams Attending the

7th Grade Girls 2023 League Championship Tournament

 

Melrose-Mindoro and Sparta, Wisconsin

There are 42 teams playing in the 7th grade League Championship Tournament.  The tournament will start with fourteen pools of three teams each, with each team playing each poolmate on a round robin basis.  Teams were placed into pools in the order of their finish in regular season standings except for two switches that were made:  we switched #25 Clear Lake with #27 Sparta Gold, so that the Sparta team can play their pool matches at home; and we switched #16 Northland Pines and #18 Eau Claire Sky Blue to avoid having two Eau Claire teams in the same pool.

After pool play is completed, there is a built-in 30 minute break for seeding and for teams to travel between Sparta and Melrose where needed. 

• All teams finishing #1 in their pool will play all post pool games at Melrose Mindoro. 

• All teams finishing #3 in their pool, except #3 Gold and #3 Pink, will play all post pool games at Sparta.  The 35th-42nd place quarterfinal between #3 Gold and #3 Pink will be played at 11:15 a.m. at Melrose-Mindoro, after which those teams will travel to Sparta. 

• The top two teams finishing #2 in their pool will play at Melrose-Mindoro and the remaining 12 teams will play in Sparta.  Reseeding will be completed as soon as possible after the final matches at 11:15 a.m.

Teams should proceed expeditiously from one site to the other so that the next matches can start early if the court is available. 

Tie-Breakers

Anytime pool play is involved in a tournament, it’s possible to have teams tie within a pool, with a question of which team will advance as the highest seed to the next round. 

• With three-team pools, the only possible tie is a three-way tie with all three teams having a 1-1 match record. 

• Where that happens, we next go to game winning percentage in both pool matches.  For example, if Teams A, B and C all have a 1-1 pool match record, with Team A having a pool game record of 2-2 (.500), Team B having a 3-2 game record (.600) and Team C having a 2-3 game record (.400), Team B would be seeded #1, Team A would be seeded #2 and Team C would be seeded #3, based on game winning percentage. 

• If three teams are still tied after applying the match and game winning percentage tie breakers, the next tie breaker is the fewest total points given up (defensive points allowed) in all of their pool games.  If after breaking a three-way tie with identical match and game records, one team wins the tie breaker based on fewest defensive points allowed, we next go back to head-to-head competition when comparing the remaining two teams. 

• If three teams are still tied after applying the defensive points tie breaker, the next tie breaker is the most total offensive points scored during pool play.  After applying the total offensive points scored calculation, we next go back to head-to-head competition when comparing the two remaining teams.  In other words, where two teams remain tied, whether after applying the defensive or offensive points tie breaker, the next tie breaker is head-to-head results, not tie breaker points.

Re-seeding After Pool Play

After pool play, the winner of each pool will advance to the championship bracket Round of 16.  Teams finishing 2nd in their pool will be re-seeded, with the top two 2nd place teams assigned to the final two spots in the championship bracket Round of 16; the next six 2nd place teams will be assigned to the 17th-22nd place bracket; the remaining six 2nd place teams will be assigned to the 23rd-28th place bracket.  The six 3rd place teams in the Blue, Red, White, Green, Purple and Orange Pools (the six pools containing the top six third-ranked teams in each pool based on season standings) advance to the 29th-34th place bracket.  The eight remaining 3rd place finishing teams from the Gold, Grey, Navy, Maroon, Black, Yellow, Teal and Pink Pools, play their final three matches of the tournament in the 35th-42nd place bracket.

We will re-seed teams finishing in 2nd place using the following method (please see an example of re-seeding at the end of this posting):

1. Match and Game winning percentage, then
2. Most total offensive points scored, then if still tied
3. Least total defensive points allowed, and finally, if any teams are still tied after all of these criteria,
4. The higher seed at the start of the Tournament.

All 2nd place finishing teams except the #15 and #16 seeded teams will play their play-off round matches in Sparta.  The top two 2nd place teams will play in Melrose-Mindoro.

Bracketing

Championship Round of 16.  The championship bracket Round of 16 is seeded as follows:

                          Match          Opponents

Match 1:  #1 Blue v. #16 Seed (second highest #2 team after pool play)

Match 2:  #1 Grey v. #1 Navy

Match 3:  #1 Purple v. #1 Yellow

Match 4:  #1 Green v. #1 Teal

Match 5:  #1 White v. #1 Pink

Match 6:  #1 Orange v. #1 Black

Match 7:  #1 Gold v. #1 Maroon

Match 8:  #1 Red v. #15 Seed (highest #2 team after pool play)

 

17th-22nd Place Bracket.  The six teams bracketed into the 17th-22nd place matches will play their play-off games in Sparta.  This bracket is organized into two pools of three teams each, with each team playing its two poolmates.  After this second round of pool play, the top finishing team from each pool will play each other for 17th place, the two 2nd place finishers for 19th place and the two 3rd place finishers for 21st place.  The 17th-22nd place pools are constructed as follows:

17th-22nd Pool A	17th-22nd Pool B
17th seed after pool play 20th seed after pool play 21st seed after pool play	18th seed after pool play 19th seed after pool play 22nd seed after pool play

 

23rd-28th Place Bracket.  The remaining six 2nd place finishers will be bracketed into the 23rd-28th place bracket and will also play their play-off matches in Sparta.  Again, they will be organized into two pools of three teams each, with each team playing its two poolmates.  After this second round of pool play, the top finishing team from each pool will play each other for 23rd place, the two 2nd place finishers for 25th place and the two 3rd place finishers for 27th place.  The 23rd-28th place pools are constructed as follows:

23rd-28th Pool A	23rd-28th Pool B
23rd seed after pool play 26th seed after pool play 27th seed after pool play	24th seed after pool play 25th seed after pool play 28th seed after pool play

29th-34th Place Bracket.  The six teams in the Blue, Red, White, Green, Purple and Orange Pools (the six pools containing the top eight third seeds based on season standings) will advance to the 29th-34th place bracket using the same formatting as described above: two pools of three teams each, with each team playing its two poolmates.  After this second round of pool play, the top finishing team from each pool will play each other for 29th place, the two 2nd place finishers for 31st place and the two 3rd place finishers for 33rd place.  The 29th-34th place pools are constructed as follows:

29th-34th Pool A	29th-34th Pool B
# 3 Blue # 3 Green # 3 Purple	# 3 Red # 3 White # 3 Orange

35th-42nd Place Bracket.  The eight 3rd place finishing teams from the Gold, Grey, Navy, Maroon, Black, Yellow, Teal and Pink Pools, play their final three matches of the tournament in the 35th-42nd place bracket.  This bracket will be formatted as follows:

                        Quarterfinal Matches

Match 1:  # 3 Gold v. # 3 Teal

Match 2:  # 3 Yellow v. #3 Pink

Match 3:  # 3 Black v. #3 Tan

Match 4:  # 3 Grey v. # 3 Silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE:  General Posting for All Teams

Wisconsin Independent Volleyball League Championship Tournaments

Grades 8th and 7th

May 13, 2023

 

The narrative below should be read by all coaches attending the League Championship Tournament (“LCT”) for 8th and 7th girls to be held on May 13, 2023.  In addition, the coach for each participating team should read the grade-specific information associated with the schedule for that grade.

The following points should be noted by all participant teams -- whether playing in the 8th grade or 7th grade LCT:

• League Rules.  All regular season League Rules will apply to the LCT except as noted below.

• Admissions.  Per League Rule B-7, the host will be allowed to charge $8 per adult and $3 per student (versus $5 per adult/$2 per child during the regular season) to help cover the added cost of running this event.  All admission fees are retained by the host school(s).  Instead of marking hands, each admitted person will be issued a wristband that they must display when entering and re-entering each venue.  A wristband purchased in one host community will be valid in the other host community (e.g., for the 7th grade LCT, a ticket purchased in Melrose-Mindoro will be valid in Sparta).

Players in uniform or with a jersey/shirt in their possession will be admitted free of charge.  Each team will be provided with two coach wristbands at the admission table of the venue where that team plays its first match.  Coaches will need to display their wristband when re-entering each venue.

• Concessions.  All hosts will be providing full concessions at all venues.  Please support the efforts of all the host schools to provide concessions for the teams.  Host communities retain all concession profits.  Melrose-Mindoro, Prairie Farm, St. Croix Central and Sparta should be commended for stepping forward and agreeing to host these four events.  Coaches, please make sure all parents and players are aware of this rule:  No coolers or outside food and drink provisions are allowed at any of the LCT venues except for beverages consumed by players during matches. 

• Number of Matches.  As provided for in League Rule B-7, all teams attending the LCT are guaranteed five matches (some teams will play six). 

• Rosters.  At regular season meets, multiple teams from the same community are allowed to move players back and forth between their rosters throughout the day to balance playing time for each player.  This is not allowed at the LCT.  If a given community has multiple teams at a specific LCT, each player can play on only one team throughout the day.  Violating this rule will result in the second team to play the same player, forfeiting all matches where the player(s) in question was allowed to play.  The original team on which that player played that day will not be penalized, even if the second team is that player’s regular team.

• Six players to start all matches.  Please note Rule D-15.  In regular season League meets, a team can start a match with less than six players and not be penalized.  However, as noted in Rule D-15, at the LCT, WIAA rules apply.  A team must have at least six players available to take the floor at the start of the first game of a match, or a forfeit will be declared.  There will be a five minute grace period. 

• Line Judges.  As is the case at regular League meets, each team must provide one line judge to work each LCT match.  Refusal or failure to do so will result in a forfeit.

• Failure to show.  If a team drops out of an LCT after the schedule is posted (May 8), the League will make every effort to fill the vacancy.  If that happens, teams will not be re-seeded; rather, the replacement team will assume the vacated spot, without regard to team strength.  If a team fails to show at the LCT, whether for all their matches, or a specific match, all affected matches will be won by the opposing team.  For tie breaker purposes, the scores of those matches will be reported as 25-0, 25-0.

• Coin Toss/Bench Selection.  Please note League Rule D-14.  This is the only instance where we’ve amended the published regular season rule significantly for the LCT in the interest of fairness.  The home team in any given match will always be the highest original seed, based on the final standings posted on this website.  At any point during the tournament, the team with the highest regular season seed will be treated as the home team.

• Match Start Time.  Start times for first matches of the day vary at the different LCT venues, so check the schedule for your grade carefully.  Where possible, we tried to give teams with longer trips later start times, but that was not always an option. 

Teams will get a minimum of ten minutes (combined, not ten minutes per team) of warm-up time before their first match of the day.  After that, particularly where we are running behind schedule, the official on each court and the tournament director have the authority to start a match early if both teams are there and ready to go, and to limit warm-up time.  Many early day matches will last only two games, with later matches (whether in the championship or consolation brackets) more closely-contested, often going to three games.  Any time that can be made up in early round play will be appreciated later on in the day.  With that objective in mind, we ask your cooperation doing the following:

• Early starts where possible.  While no team will be asked to start its first match of the day early, where both teams are at the court for their next match, we’d like to see some matches begin before their posted time.  If your team finishes its match early in a given time slot, encourage your players to use the rest rooms or visit the concession stand expeditiously and then proceed directly to the court on which their next match will be played.

• Don’t leave the venues unnecessarily.  When you have only 55 minutes between matches, please do not leave the LCT premises, except when traveling between venues to get to your next match.  As noted above, use the rest rooms, visit the concession stand and then go directly to your next match in case it can start early.

• No or little warm-up.  After each team’s first match, there will be little warm-up time in subsequent matches.  If matches are running significantly behind on a given court, the referee may allow no warm-up time.

• First to win two.  All matches will be won by the first team to win two games.  No third games (where one team wins the first two) will be played for “fun.” 

• Awards.  Trophies will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place in the 8th grade 12-team Top Tier in Prairie Farm; to the 1st through 4th place teams in the 8th grade 24-team Second Tier at St. Croix Central; and to the 1st through 5th place and consolation championship (9th place) teams.  Individual players on teams winning trophies will receive medallions.

We provide ten medallions per team at each LCT.  For teams that win a trophy and have more than ten players actually in attendance at the LCT, you will be able to obtain additional medallions after the event by contacting Tracie Tilton at tracie@gnbl.org or 715-749-9048.  No individual awards will be provided to teams that fail to win a team trophy.

• Questions or Comments.  Questions or comments about the LCT before or after the day of the event, should be directed to Terri Green at 715-386-4317 (terri@gnbl.org) or Tracie Tilton 715-749-9048 (tracie@gnbl.org).  Questions or comments at the event should be directed to the following Tournament Director who will be on site:

• 8th Grade:
  • Prairie Farm:  Micki Bowers
  • St. Croix Central:  Autumn Afdahl
• 7th Grade:
  • Melrose-Mindoro:  Dave Waraxa
  • Sparta:  Bobbie Evans and Erika McTaggert