The start of the boys’ Fifth District basketball tournament is two weeks away and officials are still trying to determine who the top seed will be.
Livingston Central, Lyon County, and Trigg County all ended the regular season with identical 4-2 marks. They each went 1-1 against the other and 2-0 against Crittenden County, who will be the four seed.
Crittenden County is the host of this year’s tournament, and that has left their athletic director and tournament manager Angela Starnes searching the district by-laws for an answer. The by-laws cover two-way ties but does not appear to cover the unprecedented three-way tie for the top seed.
The schools are scheduled to meet Wednesday to determine how to settle to three-way tie and then settle it. Here are some suggestions to breaking the tie.
Among the possibilities:
Coin toss
A three-way coin toss between the three schools could determine the top seed. However, what method to use? Does the odd coin get the number one seed or does the odd coin result in a three seed with the two remaining schools left to flip a coin in the usual manner? How did they do it in the movie ‘Friday Night Lights’?
Ping Pong Balls
Drawing ping pong balls like they do in the lottery could be a possibility. Unlike the actual lottery, the payoff isn’t a big one because the No. 1 seed would play No. 4 seed Crittenden County on the Rockets’ home floor in the first round, and that’s never an easy task.
Pick a number
You could have Starnes pick a number between 1 and 20 and the closest gets the top seed. However, do you use Price of Right rules where you can’t go over? Would guessing the actual number result in winning both showcase showdowns?
Jeopardy
Have all three coaches stand before an Alex Trebek-type moderator and answer basketball-related questions. Pick the Daily Double and watch the scores really rise. I’ll take “Options that Ain’t Happening” for $200, Alex.
Free Throw Shooting Contest
The coaches of the three schools – Bill McNamara (Livingston), Jeff Embrey (Lyon), and Payton Croft (Trigg) were all pretty good players in their hey day. Shoot 10 free throws. Winner gets the No. 1 seed and the losers have a teaching moment for their teams on why pressure free throws are important.
Let Denis Hodge Decide
The Crittenden County coach is sitting back and watching the drama unfold. Let him pick as a reward since he didn’t create any of this mess.
Chili Cookoff
Have the three coaches (or significant others) cook their best pot of chili and let an esteemed panel of judges (**cough** media **cough**) pick the winner in a blind taste test. The loser also has to provide the Tums afterwards.
Once the decision is made Wednesday, the Fifth District Tournament will begin Monday, Feb. 19 in Marion.
