NC high basketball finals postponed, all other sports suspended amid coronavirus threat
The North Carolina high school basketball championships are being postponed indefinitely, according to a NCHSAA press release.
The eight games were originally scheduled for Saturday.
All other NCHSAA sports, including practices, workouts, games and skill development, will also be suspended from 11:59 p.m. March 13 through April 6.
“As much as we would like this opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches, and their communities, we know that ultimately any decision we make must err on the side of caution,” NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said, according to the release.
Over the next few weeks, “the NCHSAA Board of Directors will assess this situation regularly,” the release said.
This decision comes after coronavirus concerns forced the ACC tournament to cancel its men’s basketball tournament and the NBA to postpone its season, among others. All UNC system schools have joined Duke in stopping on-campus classes due to virus concerns.
On Thursday, Mecklenburg County had its first two reported cases of coronavirus.
▪ NC Independent Schools executive director Homar Ramirez said the NCISAA is suspending alll spring athletic games, scrimmages and/or contests indefinitely. The suspension begins with games being played Friday, March 13 and the suspension, Ramirez said, will continue until further notice.
NCISAA schools are permitted to have practice or training sessions.
“It goes without saying that the NCISAA is committed to the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and member schools,” Ramirez said in a news release. “We will continue to navigate this situation with the health and safety of all our constituents as the top priority.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:30 PM with the headline "NC high basketball finals postponed, all other sports suspended amid coronavirus threat."
