With
a growing number of states modifying their high school sports
calendars due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, where does that leave basketball and its national tournament season? While the major focus of the realigned schedules has been football, the ripple creates chaos for state and national hoops scene.
On Monday, California released a schedule with basketball beginning March 12, a date typically deep into postseason play. One day later, Texas announced there would be no tournaments and Washington announced hoops wouldn't begin until after the New Year.
In response, some events have already announced plans to move to a later date, while others will have to cancel altogether.
The Classic at Damien, in La Verne, Calif., was the first tournament to announce a move, picking April 3-10 to accommodate the new CIF basketball calendar.
Likewise, the Kevin Durant National Hoopfest Series is looking to push its December event in Seattle to January or February to match the WIAA basketball calendar.
With no tournaments allowed in Texas this season, the Thanksgiving Hoopfest and 63rd edition of the Whataburger Tournament will be canceled, while regional tournaments will not take place in 2020-21 either.
Another major event that will be impacted by a delayed high school basketball season is the Spalding Hoophall Classic, which was expected to host headliners
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.),
San Ysidro (San Diego) and potentially more West Coast programs. Set for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, it likely will have a have a more localized feel this season with many teams hesitant or
unable to travel due to the current climate.
Another major question surrounding events that plan on moving forward is how many fans – if any – will be allowed to attend?
Many events rely on ticket sales for funding, allowing them to bring in power programs from out of the area.
The Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Missouri had a three-day total of 22,553 fans last season, while other events such as the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational saw 20,000-plus fans last year as well.
The championship game of the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., drew over 10,000 fans in January.
Photo by Randy Kemp
