Basketball coaches hoping to resume
With the TSSAA Board of Control voting unanimously to approve TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress’ recommendation to keep the basketball state championships postponed over coronavirus concerns, there is hope that three girls basketball teams and three boys basketball teams will be crowned champions in Division I.
However, that all depends on whether conditions across the state and country begin to improve along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coming off of its recommendation of no crowds of more than 50 people gathering.
Basketball coaches across the state are thankful the tournaments weren’t canceled.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to still play,” Gibson County girls basketball coach Mitch Wilkins said. “I am curious to what all that means and how it will all come down, but we are excited for the opportunity to play.”
Gibson County, the defending Class A state champion, won the final game Thursday night before the TSSAA suspended the tournament.
The boys basketball state tournament also was suspended on Thursday. It was scheduled to start Wednesday.
“I’m encouraged by the decision the TSSAA and its leadership made today,” Blackman boys basketball coach Barry Wortman said Tuesday. “All of us associated with Blackman basketball are very appreciative of their desire to keep the state tournament alive. With that being said, this situation is about far more than basketball.”
There are definite concerns by coaches and players about what it will be like sitting at home for at least three weeks – in compliance with Gov. Bill Lee’s recommendation to cancel schools through the end of the month – and then trying to get back to basketball to play for a state title in mid-may.
“It was cool, but it’s going to be like two months later and the momentum has been going down as we
wait,” Whitehaven guard Se’quoia Allmond said. “It’s like, OK, we haven’t been in the gym or doing anything, so by the time it’s time to play, we’re not going to lose our skills overnight. But it does affect the momentum.”
Practice time seems to be the biggest issue for coaches. Mt. Juliet boys basketball coach Troy Allen would like to have a minimum of two weeks to practice prior to the tournament starting. He said he heard one week mentioned on the TSSAA Board of Control call and “that’s not realistic.”
“Obviously, it’s not ideal,” Allen said. “But as long as they give us enough time to get ready, it’s better than not playing. Eight weeks off is a long time off for basketball. But I wanted to have an option.”
So, for now, the waiting game continues for the girls basketball teams to have hope of completing what was started a week ago.
“It is the right thing to do,” Westview girls basketball coach Brian Haskins said. “They want it to play out, but the logistics of it is so tough. They are going to revisit in a few weeks and see what the numbers are with the CDC.
“The condition of the players would be the biggest concern. You can’t keep them in shape all the way to May, and then trying to get back into it and back into the game. You can’t have both sides, and that is just the hand that we have been dealt.”
The question of AAU players was brought up on the Board of Control conference call on Tuesday, and then there is the question of multi-sport athletes who play a spring sport.
“There are so many variables to try and get it done,” South Side boys basketball coach Damonn Fuller said. “In eight weeks, the seniors will be done with school, the kids have spring sports and a kid can run in a track meet and pull a muscle. The kids will also play AAU with other kids from all over the state. The longer you wait, the more chances you have of something happening to stop the tournament from being played.”
But for now, the coaches will take the optimism being shown by their players and be thankful the TSSAA decided to give hope in these unprecedented times.
“It kind of gives us a beacon of hope that we’ll be able to play,” Arlington girls basketball coach Wes Shappley said. “At the end of the day, that’s what myself and our kids and the families that are in our program all want, the opportunity to do those things. I texted my kids, and I’m getting all kinds of dancing memes and emojis and stuff back in response.”
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @Jswritermichael.