CIF to make a ruling on state basketball championships due to coronavirus concerns
The California Interscholastic Federation will make a ruling Thursday morning on the status of the state basketball championships because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
“The California Interscholastic Federation is conferring with its Executive Officers and will be issuing a statement by 9 a.m., regarding the status of the remainder of the CIF State Championship Basketball Tournament,” CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti said in a news release.
Sierra Pacific High girls basketball is one of the teams scheduled to play for a state title at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Golden Bears, who beat Colfax 52-39 on Tuesday to advance to the final, are scheduled to play Lancaster at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Sierra Pacific coach Amy Bush is hoping the tournament will go on.
“If they tell us we can’t play, it’s going to be a tough one,” Bush said. “We have one more game left and that’s what the girls worked hard for.
“Our main goal was to be at the Golden 1 Center and win the championship. It would be disappointing, but you need to do to keep people safe. I’m hoping they let us play.”
The Central Section, meanwhile, will continue with sporting events in the Fresno area as scheduled, according to section commissioner Jim Crichlow.
The exception right now, however, is Exeter Unified, which chose to cancel all sporting events outside of Tulare County until April 6.
That includes home games against schools outside of Tulare County, as well as tournaments and invitationals with schools from outside Tulare County.
Exeter Unified said it will continue to take directions and recommendations from the Tulare County Office of Education and the California Department of Education.
On Wednesday evening, the NBA announced that it is suspending play for the remainder of the season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.
