Coronavirus putting a damper on prep tourneys across country

re were pep bands, cheerleaders and only about 200 fans as high school rivals faced off in a playoff game that might have drawn close to 2,000 in just about any or circumstance.

Instead, it was a small crowd that watched Brookfield Central and Brookfield East st a double-overtime thriller Thursday night, t all that long after NCAA canceled its beloved March Madness tournaments and professional leagues put ir seasons on hold to combat spread of coronavirus. two high school teams in souastern Wisconsin simply treasured opportunity to play at all.

“Every game we play from here on out, it could be our last game,” Brookfield Central’s David Joplin said after his 31-point effort in 76-66 victory.

As it turned out, that’s exactly what it was. Hours after game, Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association canceled rest of its high school basketball tournament, becoming latest state to scrap a beloved rite of March for hundreds of communities across country.

At least 33 states had canceled or postponed ir basketball tournaments by late Friday night, including big states like Texas, New York and Ohio. California Interscholastic Federation called off play day before San Domenico of San Anselmo was scheduled to play for a championship.

“We understand situation, but we’re just devastated,” San Domenico coach Mike Fulton said. “I thought we’d at least play with body in stands. I’ve got guys crying, guys upset.”

Instead of preparing his undefeated team for state tournament, Ashland (Kentucky) Paul Blazer coach Jason Mays spent Thursday trying to give his players a lesson in perspective.

“I said re are victims due to this virus,” Mays said. “re’s families that have lost loved ones and re’s people that are losing revenue and job opportunities because of all se cancellations and suspensions of athletic events all across country. re’s people who have real-world problems because of this.”

About a dozen states, including Florida, had completed ir state tournaments before this week. handful of states that didn’t halt play were restricting number of fans.

That created plenty of scenes like one that took place at Brookfield Central-Brookfield East sectional playoff game in Hartford, about 35 miles rthwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Each team was given just 88 tickets to distribute for a game that was moved from a 2,000-seat fieldhouse to a smaller gym. smaller crowd did its best to produce a playoff atmosphere. Fans in student sections stood throughout game.

“I thought it was pretty special because people we had here were people we invited — family members, best friends,” Brookfield East’s Hayden Doyle said. “It’s t a huge gym, but re was still a lot of energy in gym throughout game.’’

Even after Brookfield Central won, Lancers sensed y might t get a chance to play again.

“You still kind of feel somewhere inside of you that this is all going to be coming to an end at some point,” Brookfield Central coach Dan Wandrey said.

Wisconsin was one of several states that canceled or postponed ir playoffs after initially trying to continue with limited crowd sizes.

Jeffrey Collins, executive director of New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association, said some potential playoff sites had policies that wouldn’t have allowed any fans and some schools indicated y wouldn’t have been able to play anyway.

“It was a confluence of a number of different factors,” Collins said.

And matter how much a state tried to limit crowd size at its playoff games, threat of spreading virus remained.

“Who’s to say of 170 people who were here today, somebody doesn’t have it?” Wandrey said after his game.

All those concerns created a sense of inevitability during Brookfield Central-Brookfield East matchup that this might be final game for both teams.

y paid attention to what NBA and NCAA had done earlier in week. y knew ir event might be next.

“I’d be a little mad, but I understand that this is something body’s playing around with,” Joplin said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re educated. If it’s canceled, we kw it’s for best.”

Im Credits: AP