Sports
NJSIAA Cancels Basketball Playoffs Over Coronavirus Concerns
No decision has been made about the spring sports season, the state high school sports association said.
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ — Due to concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, the NJSIAA has canceled the remainder of the state basketball playoffs.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Association, the governing body of high school sports in the state, announced the cancellation Thursday evening.
The girls and boys basketball playoffs were expected to play the group championships over the weekend, with the boys games moved to Phillipsburg High School and the girls set to play at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River. The games will not be rescheduled, the NJSIAA said.
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"We have been making our decisions one day at a time, taking into account the best available guidance from the state health department and the CDC," the state association said. "Now, given the rapidly changing circumstances and uncertainties facing our member schools, our student-athletes, our host facilities, and many others, we no longer see a viable path to the completion of the Group Championships on Saturday and Sunday."
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"We understand that our decision will disappoint many, but believe it to be in the best interest of our student-athletes and all those involved with the games," the NJSIAA statement said.
On Thursday afternoon, the association said decisions about the spring sports season right now are up to individual school districts because games do not start until March 25 for boys and girls lacrosse and April 1 for all other sports.
COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. There were 29 cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Thursday. One man, from Bergen County, has died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
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