Coronavirus: RI Cancels Basketball, Hockey State Tournaments

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — After a week of making adjustments and accepting fan restrictions, hopes of completing this winter's high school basketball and hockey tournaments ended Friday when the Rhode Island Interscholastic League canceled the remainder of the winter season. The RIIL also announced it is delaying indefinitely the beginning of spring practices that were set to start on Monday.

"The RIIL made every effort to keep the tournaments going and to give the student-athletes an opportunity to finish out their winter seasons," RIIL Executive Director Thomas Mezzonatte said. "However, the league in conjunction with the Principals' Committee on Athletics has determined that is not possible given the extenuating circumstances created by the COVID-19 health crisis."

As the RIIL pushed forward to finish out the indoor high school sports seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic it announced on Thursday that only players, coaches and essential personnel were to be allowed at tournament games at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College. No spectators were allowed at the games Thursday night.

But with Gov. Gina Raimondo announcing on Friday that all public schools will be closed next week, the prospect of extending the winter sports season through the shut down became too much of an obstacle to keep battling.

The high school sports season in Massachusetts ended early as well with state co-champions in each division of basketball and hockey after the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association decided Thursday night to cancel all state finals scheduled for this weekend. The final two games were played in front of no fans Thursday night at Worcester State University to determine the Division 4 girls and Division 3 boys co-champions.

The Ivy League, Patriot League and New England Small College Athletic Conference all announced the cancellation of the entire spring college season for all athletic teams. Many sports such as lacrosse were already well into their respective seasons.

The NBA announced Wednesday night it was suspending its season after two players on the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus, the NHL and MLS announced similar measures on Thursday, and it was announced Thursday night that the NCAA "March Madness" men's and women's basketball tournaments will also be canceled.

(More on the coronavirus can be found in this fact sheet from the CDC.)

Anyone who feels ill, no matter how mild, is urged to stay home until they are well. Even those who have tested negative for COVID-19 are asked to remain at home until they feel better. When greeting others, especially those over 60, Rhode Islanders are asked to avoid handshakes and hugs, opting for a fist or elbow-bump or other greeting with minimal contact.

Handwashing remains one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus, Alexander-Scott said. Use warm water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently, and wipe down surfaces in the home with disinfectant. Other recommendations include:

• Get a flu shot, and encourage those around you to do the same. While this will not help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is an effective tool to keep people with the flu from developing complications that require hospitalization.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than a hand or the air.
• Stay home from school or work if sick.
• Keep surfaces, especially bedside tables, bathrooms and children's toys clean by wiping them down with disinfectant.
• Get plenty of sleep, by physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods to maintain good health.The CDC does not recommend that otherwise healthy people wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory viruses, including the new coronavirus.

If you have questions, reach out to the Rhode Island Department of Health by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 401-222-8022, or 211 after hours, emailing RIDOH.COVID19Questions@health.ri.gov or visiting the department's website. In addition, the state has launched a 24-hour hotline during an anxiety-prone time. Anyone in need of mental health assistance can call 401-415-5565.

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