I’m all for letting kids celebrate championships, but the way the Arizona Interscholastic Association breaks down high school sports makes the playoff system slightly ridiculous.

Take the Class 5A Division I football playoffs, for example.

In the 16-team tournament, Phoenix North Canyon was the last team to squeak into the field.

The problem is, North Canyon’s record is 3-7, including a 0-5 mark in region play.

Does that sound like a playoff team? Didn’t think so.

Additionally, two other teams in 5A-I made the field with losing records, including No. 10-seed Phoenix St. Mary’s (5-6) and No. 15-seed Mesa Westwood (5-6).

Granted, two schools being put on probation opened the door for these sub-.500 teams to make the playoffs, but splitting 5A and 4A into two divisions was the wrong decision because it dilutes the competition field and prevents the best matchups from happening.

Chandler Hamilton and Peoria Centennial are the best two teams in Arizona, but a showdown for the state crown will never happen because Hamilton is a 5A-I school and Centennial is a 5A-II school.

Of course, the two divisions allows more celebration for more teams, but any true athlete will tell you they want to compete against the best to prove they are the best.

Right now, in Arizona high school sports that isn’t happening.