The Big Four in a Final Four would be interesting
From The Sun's Katherine Dunn:
Every year’s field hockey state tournament is different, but one thing doesn’t often change. The Big Four usually qualify – and they often win.
Severna Park, Pocomoke, Fallston and Bethesda-Chevy Chase – the state’s most successful public school programs -- all played in this week’s finals. Three of them won: Severna Park in Class 4A, Fallston in 3A and Pocomoke in 1A. (Rising Sun claimed its fourth title in taking the Class 2A crown.)
Only BCC did not win and only because Fallston’s Caitlin Dempsey scored a goal with 3:11 left in double overtime. The teams came that close to being co-champs.
Of 126 state finals since the tournament started in 1975, the Big Four have played in 74 of them, claiming 55 titles – 17 for Severna Park, 15 for Pocomoke, 13 for BCC and 10 for Fallston. That’s 44 percent of the total.
Every year since 1992, at least one has won a title. Twice since then, all four have won in the same year. Six times, three won in the same year. Only four times since 1979 have all four been shut out in the same year.
Just as impressive is the combined number of wins for the four coaches – 1,256. Severna Park’s Lil Shelton has 479 wins in 32 years, Fallston’s Alice Puckett has 321 wins in 25 years. Pocomoke’s Susan Pusey has 235 in 16 years and BCC’s Amy Wood has 222 in 15 years.
The only thing that could top all that? A tournament of champions with all four.
Comments
I've always thought this would be interesting, in every sport, to have all of the champions play. Just a note, while looking through Pocomoke's schedule, they did scrimmage both Fallston and Severna Park in September at Pocomoke. I have no idea of the results. Maybe someone knows or could find out. Info came via the viewmyschedule website. Pocomoke also played and lost to Delaware powerhouse Delmar, this year in the regular season. Just thought I'd pass it along, somewhat note worthy I guess.
Posted by: Mark | November 15, 2007 1:35 PM