UIL suspends high school boys basketball state tournament due to coronavirus outbreak
With nearly the entire sports world on hold due to growing concerns over COVID-19 (coronavirus), the UIL announced on Thursday it has suspended the rest of the week’s boys basketball state tournament at the Alamodome.
The suspension is until further notice. The decision was effective upon the conclusion of the 3A session on Thursday.
“After much consultation with government and health officials, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the remainder of the UIL State Basketball Tournament,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt in a press release.
LaRue LaPoynor and Slidell both won Class 1A games. Dallas Madison and San Antonio Cole won 3A games.
Nine teams from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex qualified: Duncanville, Wylie, Lancaster, Mansfield Timberview, Oak Cliff Faith Family, Argyle, Madison, Peaster and Slidell.
Timberview and Lancaster were scheduled to play semifinal games Thursday night.
“I’ve experienced a lot of things in my lifetime, but nothing to this degree,” said Timberview coach Duane Gregory, who was set to play San Antonio Wagner at 7 p.m. “I’m stunned, but not surprised when you see everything happening in the sports world getting postponed and canceled.”
The tournament was scheduled to continue Friday and Saturday, concluding with all six state championship games.
Fans who purchased tickets for the postponed games will be issued full refunds at point of sale or from the school they purchased their tickets from. Fans who purchased All-Tournament tickets will be issued a full refund.
“Our number one priority remains the well-being of our student-athletes and spectators and we are taking every possible precaution to keep them safe,” Breithaupt said.
Early Thursday morning, the UIL announced the tournament was continuing as planned, but with limited attendance. It stated that Saturday’s championship games would have been limited to 500 tickets per school.
The girls basketball state tournament ran last week, March 5-7, with little to no change. All 18 games were played and six state champions were crowned, including Duncanville (6A) and Frisco Liberty (5A).
The facility at the Alamodome had put several safeguards in place at both tournaments, including anti-bacterial sanitizing stations and enhanced cleaning and sanitation initiatives before and during the tourney in locker rooms and throughout high traffic areas, as well as wiping down seats between sessions.
“Disappointed for the kids, our program and community, but I understand,” Gregory said. “They are being cautious with people’s health and I get that aspect of it. A lot has changed since we got on the bus Wednesday morning. It’s unprecedented.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 2:15 PM.
