Here is the criteria that the NCHSAA is using for basketball playoffs.
4.1.18 Playoff Berths/Qualification:
(a) Conference automatic qualifiers are determined by the number of teams from a given
classification in each conference as follows:
(1) 1 – 4 teams = 1 automatic qualifier
(2) 5 – 8 teams = 2 automatic qualifiers
(3) 9 or more teams = 3 automatic qualifiers
*(4) any additional at-large spots needed to fill out the bracket will be filled based on overall
conference finish, then “Adjusted” MaxPreps rankings
(b) Conference tournament champions automatically qualify
(1) If the regular season champion also wins the tournament, no additional berth will be awarded.
(2) If a team other than the regular season champion wins the tournament, it will automatically
qualify for the playoffs. The team will be seeded as an at-large berth in the playoffs unless
already automatically qualified based upon their regular season conference finish.
(c) Split conference application
(1) The highest finishing team from a given classification will automatically qualify, regardless of
overall conference finish.
(2) Two teams that finish 1st and 2nd overall in the conference from the same classification will
automatically qualify regardless of rule 4.1.18(a)(1-3).
NOTE: Ties for 1st place in the overall conference or for highest finisher in a classification must
be broken using the established tie-breaking procedure [rule 4.1.13].
*(3) for split conferences: to be seeded as a #1, the top finisher in each half of the split must
finish either 1, 2, or 3 in the overall conference standings, OR have an overall winning percentage
equal to or greater than .500; IF NOT, the team will still qualify automatically, but be seeded with other at-large teams based on “Adjusted MaxPreps Ranking”
4.1.19 Seeding:
(a) Once the qualifying teams in each classification are determined, they will be divided into two
regions of equal size (East and West) based on the longitude of each school.
(b) The teams in each region will be seeded as follows:
(1) Seed all 1st place automatic berths and highest finishing team in each classification of a
split conference by adjusted MaxPreps rankings *(NOTE: for team from split conference to be seeded as a #1, the top finisher in their half of the split must finish either 1, 2, or 3 in the overall conference standings, OR have an overall winning percentage equal to or greater than .500; IF NOT, the team will still qualify automatically, but be seeded with other at-large teams based on “Adjusted MaxPreps Ranking”); then
(2) Seed all 2nd place automatic berths by adjusted MaxPreps rankings; then
(3) Seed all 3rd place automatic berths by adjusted MaxPreps rankings; then
(4) Seed all conference tournament champions and at-large berths by adjusted MaxPreps rankings.
(c) Once seeding is complete:
(1) Existing byes will be awarded to the highest seeds possible.
(2) The higher seed is the home team unless otherwise determined by the NCHSAA.
4.1.18 Playoff Berths/Qualification:
(a) Conference automatic qualifiers are determined by the number of teams from a given
classification in each conference as follows:
(1) 1 – 4 teams = 1 automatic qualifier
(2) 5 – 8 teams = 2 automatic qualifiers
(3) 9 or more teams = 3 automatic qualifiers
*(4) any additional at-large spots needed to fill out the bracket will be filled based on overall
conference finish, then “Adjusted” MaxPreps rankings
(b) Conference tournament champions automatically qualify
(1) If the regular season champion also wins the tournament, no additional berth will be awarded.
(2) If a team other than the regular season champion wins the tournament, it will automatically
qualify for the playoffs. The team will be seeded as an at-large berth in the playoffs unless
already automatically qualified based upon their regular season conference finish.
(c) Split conference application
(1) The highest finishing team from a given classification will automatically qualify, regardless of
overall conference finish.
(2) Two teams that finish 1st and 2nd overall in the conference from the same classification will
automatically qualify regardless of rule 4.1.18(a)(1-3).
NOTE: Ties for 1st place in the overall conference or for highest finisher in a classification must
be broken using the established tie-breaking procedure [rule 4.1.13].
*(3) for split conferences: to be seeded as a #1, the top finisher in each half of the split must
finish either 1, 2, or 3 in the overall conference standings, OR have an overall winning percentage
equal to or greater than .500; IF NOT, the team will still qualify automatically, but be seeded with other at-large teams based on “Adjusted MaxPreps Ranking”
4.1.19 Seeding:
(a) Once the qualifying teams in each classification are determined, they will be divided into two
regions of equal size (East and West) based on the longitude of each school.
(b) The teams in each region will be seeded as follows:
(1) Seed all 1st place automatic berths and highest finishing team in each classification of a
split conference by adjusted MaxPreps rankings *(NOTE: for team from split conference to be seeded as a #1, the top finisher in their half of the split must finish either 1, 2, or 3 in the overall conference standings, OR have an overall winning percentage equal to or greater than .500; IF NOT, the team will still qualify automatically, but be seeded with other at-large teams based on “Adjusted MaxPreps Ranking”); then
(2) Seed all 2nd place automatic berths by adjusted MaxPreps rankings; then
(3) Seed all 3rd place automatic berths by adjusted MaxPreps rankings; then
(4) Seed all conference tournament champions and at-large berths by adjusted MaxPreps rankings.
(c) Once seeding is complete:
(1) Existing byes will be awarded to the highest seeds possible.
(2) The higher seed is the home team unless otherwise determined by the NCHSAA.