Final playoff thoughts There was ample debate and discussion about the new NCS playoff format after the seedings were released Sunday. The biggest takeaway: Small schools are absolutely the losers under this new model. Out of the 56 teams in the playoffs, 40 are in Division 4 or higher and just 16 are in Division 5 or lower. The larger teams simply have more opportunities to face better competition and increase their rankings throughout the season. In turn, the large schools fill up the higher divisions and push all the small schools out. Of the 56 playoff teams, 34 moved down from their base division, nine stayed in their base division and just 13 moved up from their base division. Only four teams from Division 7 made the playoffs: St. Vincent, Salesian, Ferndale and St. Bernard’s. The NCL I had six teams eligible for the playoffs but just one, Kelseyville, made it. And even though the Knights won the league at 8-0, they have a five-hour road trip north to face Humboldt Del Norte League Big-4 winner Del Norte. The biggest snub was Willits, which finished 8-2 on the year and in second place in the NCL I at 7-1. The reason the Wolverines didn’t make it is because of their computer ranking, No. 61 in the NCS. Under the new system, the NCS takes the top 56 playoff-eligible teams for the postseason. Four of the top 56 were ineligible and one team outside the top 56 (Bethel) made the playoffs for winning its league. In response to the brackets, St. Helena Athletic Director Brandon Farrell told The Press Democrat “it is really sad for our league” and that it is a “complete failure of competitive equity.” Text from St. Helena AD Brandon Farrell. 6 of the 9 teams in the NCL I were playoff eligible, including 8-2 Willits, but just one made it (Kelseyville). Farrell says the NCL I will be sending a response to the NCS. pic.twitter.com/juKbzWaxUq