In the wake of professional and college sports cancelling or delaying their seasons, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is postponing play in all sports until April 6 at the earliest in response to the COVID 19-Coronavirus global pandemic.
That includes the basketball state championship games that were scheduled for Saturday in Chapel Hill and Raleigh.
“As much as we would like this opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches, and their communities, we know that ultimately any decision we make must err on the side of caution,” said Commissioner Que Tucker.
The NCHSAA Board of Directors also moved to suspend interscholastic athletics beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 through at least Monday, April 6.
The board will assess this situation regularly over the next few weeks. This includes all workouts, skill development, practices and contests.
UPDATE: pic.twitter.com/UTlO4MTVxI
— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 12, 2020
The Atlantic Coast Conference cancelled the remainder of their men’s basketball tournament in Greensboro, joining other major college sports conferences and sports that have shut down.
Florida State and Clemson were warming up for their quarterfinal game at the Greensboro Coliseum when they were pulled off the floor less than 10 minutes before tip-off.
The scene from Greensboro as the #ACCTourney is officially cancelled…
Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/RDrkv9KEWq
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 12, 2020
Following a statement from ACC Commissioner John Swofford at mid-court, the Seminoles were declared the 2020 conference champions based on their regular season finish atop the league standings.
Your ACC champions. pic.twitter.com/1zyXkkmk3X
— R.L. Bynum (@RL_Bynum) March 12, 2020
The American Athletic Conference also cancelled its tournament in Frisco, Texas, where East Carolina was set to play Memphis.
Later on Thursday, the NCAA announced all remaining tournaments and championships for the winter and spring have been called off.
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/p4vCzvzmvo pic.twitter.com/yqAHak4HO5
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 12, 2020
