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ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIn August, the WVSSAC changed from 24 schools in Class AAAA to 16,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Senior said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWhen they did that, we lost five schools from our schedule from the Mountain State Athletic Conference that became Class AAA schools. Each of those schools we would beat cost us three points. At the end of the year, that cost us 15 points.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Hornbuckle wrote in the injunction Huntington High would have 17.39 points if programs hadnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t been reclassified to AAA. The Highlanders entered Friday nightÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s game versus Linsly with 15.72. Cabell Midland has 9.47 points but would have 12.63 under the previous classifications.

Unless the court halts it, the SSAC plans to announce playoff pairings after this weekendÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s games. Attempts to reach SSAC executive director David Price were unsuccessful before press time.

Cabell County Superintendent Tim Hardesty said the requested action was being made because the WVSSAC Board of Review doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t meet again until after the playoffs begin Nov. 15.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe schools are members of the SSAC, but they canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t file an injunction,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Hardesty said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThat takes the board of education.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Two weeks ago, Huntington High and Cabell Midland officials petitioned the WVSSAC Board of Review to adjust the system, but no change was made.

In December, the WVSSAC added a fourth class in football using a similar method to what it had previously done in basketball. The governing body of high school sports in the state used a competitive balance formula that based schoolsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ classifications 80% on enrollment, 10% on distance from a city of 10,000 or more residents and 10% on socioeconomic factors.

In football, the original realignment placed 24 teams in Class AAAA, with 16 qualifying for the playoffs.

In August, the WVSSAC readjusted the classes at the behest of 11 schools seeking to be reclassified to a lower classification. One of those schools was Spring Valley, which was moved to Class AAA, along with St. Albans, John Marshall, Oak Hill and Preston.

Board member Rhonda Smalley said sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s closely followed the SSACÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s changing the classes and thinks the system is unfair.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s using a system of measurement thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not fairly based on facts, especially the aspect based on economic judgment and proximity to an urban area,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Smalley said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSome of the criteria they previously used with this process is poorly designed. It isnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t designed to treat the smaller schools in the state the way it does the larger schools in the state.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Hornbuckle argued the financial implications at stake. She wrote the financial benefit for a team in the stateÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s largest class could be $20,000 for a home game. A team going on the road, however, could face $10,000 in expenses.