OSSAA altering tourney schedule

Pandemic forces changes to state basketball tournament

Get ready for a state tournament week unlike ever before.

On Monday, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association announced changes to the basketball state tournament schedule. Starting next week, the Class A/B tournament will begin on Tuesday, and every game will be played at State Fair Arena.

There will be six games a day at State Fair Arena, Tuesday through Friday, with all four championship games set for Saturday, OSSAA assistant director David Glover t old The Oklahoman. The annual coaches meeting, which is normally held in person at State Fair Arena the Sunday before the tournament, will be held on Zoom.

Traditionally, the A/B state tournament begins Thursday at three sub-sites and State Fair Arena, with all semifinal and championship games at State Fair Arena. For the first time, all games will be played

in the same venue.

There will also be changes the following weekend in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

For 6A/5A basketball in Tulsa, only championship games will be played at Oral Roberts' Mabee Center on Saturday. Quarterfinal and semifinal games will be played at four sub-sites Thursday and Friday. There will be four games per site Thursday and two on Friday.

In Oklahoma City, the tentative plan is to start games Tuesday at State Fair Arena and again play six games a day for five straight days, with the six championship games taking place on Saturday. Because the tournament has three classifications instead of two, the OSSAA will host games at two sub-sites during the week to help get games in.

The plan for 6A/5A in Tulsa isn't changing as much, though semifinals will remain at sub-sites instead of Mabee Center. Because of COVID protocols, ORU is able to host only the championship games, OSSAA associate director Mike Whaley said.

In Oklahoma City, however, it's similar to A/B in a normal year. There are five sub-sites and State Fair Arena for quarterfinal games Thursday. Then for semifinals, there are eight games at State Fair Arena and four other semifinals at two sub-sites.

All championships will remain Saturday this year.

Brackets will be announced Sunday f or the Class A/B state tournament, with more than a week and a half left of playoff action before brackets come out f or Classes 6A-2A.

Tickets for all games at State Fair Arena will be sold online only. Capacity will be limited, social distancing will be enforced and all attendees must wear a mask at all times, per the OSSAA.