Concerns about COVID-19 forces PIAA to scramble to find new sites in eastern portion of the bracket.
Mt. Lebanon’s opponent, Cheltenham, closes school; 3 games moved
Concerns over COVID-19 have begun to affect the PIAA basketball playoffs, but the league is going forward with all games.
Three Philadelphia-area schools refused to play host to PIAA boys basketball secondround playoff games Tuesday and Wednesday because of concerns over COVID-19, forcing the PIAA to find alternate sites.
Also, Mt. Lebanon’s school administrators expressed concern to the PIAA Tuesday about playing Cheltenham in a boys game Wednesday at Chambersburg High School. Mt. Lebanon’s concerns arose after Cheltenham, in Montgomery County near Philadelphia, announced Monday that it was closing school for the rest of the week. Cheltenham officials said a school district parent was a caregiver to a patient who tested presumptive positive for COVID-19.
Mt. Lebanon coach Joe David said he still was unsure about the status of the game, but was hopeful it would be played. School administrators were working with the PIAA and Cheltenham, but there was a possibility that the only fans allowed to attend would be family members of players and coaches.
“Nothing has been decided definitely yet,” David said. “Obviously, we want to play. Hopefully, they’ll figure out something that everyone is happy with and safe with.”
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said there is no plan to cancel games or limit fans. “We’re going day by day and following some direction by the [Pennsylvania] Department of Health. We certainly don’t want to close down games. We haven’t gotten to that level and hopefully we won’t.”
Some surrounding states have started to limit spectators or cancel games.
In Ohio, fans for state and regional basketball games will be limited after request from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. In Connecticut, the remainder of the winter sports high school tournaments, which included boys and girls basketball, hockey and boys swimming, were canceled.
In Pennsylvania, officials from Oxford, Coatesville and Norristown high schools informed the PIAA that they would not play host to second-games. Oxford declined to host the West Chester Rustin-Unionville matchup after Unionville announced Monday that it was closing as a precautionary measure. After Lower Merion announced it would close for a day, Coatesville backed away from hosting Lower Merion and West Lawn Wilson. Norristown refused to stage the game between Methacton and Abraham Lincoln.
Lombardi said: “We’ve had statements placed on our web site about the coronavirus. We’re following the department of health’s guidance and trying to promote the message of people trying to protect themselves by washing their hands, using sanitizers, cough into their elbows, have fist bumps and elbow bumps in games instead of handshakes. We also hope the general public is being diligent to make sure they’re healthy. If they’re sick, stay home.”