I know everyone is given a score - I was just assuming this is how the judges are to rank the bands. If it was truly a 1st/ 2nd/ 3rd place kind of thing - I'd think that they'd at least announce them that way instead of in 'random order'.
This will be my first time going to watch a state competition, I've seen a lot more of the BOA judging and that makes a lot more sense to me.