The Illinois High School Association has announced that it will significantly limit attendance at the remaining games in the 2020 IHSA Boys Basketball State Series, as well as at other IHSA events, to preemptively reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.
In a press release this morning, IHSA officials say that the decision comes after consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Peoria City/County Health Department, the latter of whom made the recommendation that no more than 60 spectators per school be allowed in the arena for each contest at this weekend’s Class 1A and Class 2A Boys Basketball State Finals.
The IHSA currently plans to invoke the 60-spectator per school limitation across all remaining basketball games this season. Competing schools will be provided a protocol for determining who receives tickets.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in the statement that “Ultimately we have to put the health and safety of the students, along with the general public, ahead of the spectacle of the event. This is and remains a fluid situation. It is important that our member schools and fans understand that events outside any of our control could lead to further changes over the coming hours and days.”
Games impacted by this change include the 2020 IHSA Class 1A/2A Boys Basketball State Finals on March 13-14, as well as the remaining contests at the Class 3A and Class 4A Sectional, Super-Sectional, and State Final levels.
IHSA
State Series’ in Debate, Drama & Group Interpretation, and
Scholastic Bowl will also operate under a similar attendance
restriction, with those events being limited to competing students,
coaches and essential meet personnel.
A
schedule of all remaining IHSA State Series winter events is
available on the
IHSA website. Officials say that full refunds
will be available for any tickets already purchased for the remaining
contests.
The Class 1A & 2 Boys Basketball State Finals will be televised and streamed. According to the IHSA website, a link for viewing games will be posted to the site soon.
You can find the Illinois High School Association website at ihsa.org