CHAPEL HILL — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championship basketball games will be a little quieter than normal on Saturday.
Amid the growing threat of COVID-19 spreading across the state, the NCHSAA announced in a press release Thursday that the eight state championship games scheduled will go on without allowing a surplus of fans to attend.
The decision directly impacts one of Richmond Senior High School’s Sandhills Conference opponents, Lumberton High School, whose boys’ team is set to contend for its first championship banner in the 4A title game.
The No. 9 Pirates and head coach Bryant Edwards will play against No. 1 North Mecklenburg High School at the Dean E. Smith Center at UNC Chapel Hill.
On Wednesday, UNC announced that all 17 of its campuses would be transitioning to online classes starting March 23 amid the health concern.
The press release stated that the NCHSAA’s decision was made “in consultation with the host facilities and university administrators.” Officially, all eight games, which are split between UNC (2A and 4A) and Reynolds Coliseum at North Carolina State University (1A and 3), will only allow “essential staff and limited family in attendance.”
“This decision is not one we make lightly,” said Commissioner Que Tucker in the press release. “We recognize that participating in a state championship game is often a once in a lifetime experience for our student-athletes, coaches, their families and many in the community.
“However, the NCHSAA must do its part in providing leadership necessary to keep our students, communities and state as safe as possible from the rising threat of COVID-19,” Tucker added.
The decision was also made that no tickets will be sold at the door of the venues and that concessions will not be made available for those allowed to attend. General media outlets and media members have also been barred from attending.
Fans at home will still get the opportunity to watch the four boys’ and four girls’ state title games through the Sinclair Broadcasting Group statewide television network. Games will also be made available on the NFHS Network, an online streaming service.
Lumberton finished the regular season with a 21-5 record and won the SAC regular-season title. The Pirates have rolled through the opening five rounds of the state playoffs, defeating No. 24 South Central, No. 8 Apex Friendship, No. 1 Garner Magnate, No. 4 Hoggard and No. 3 Pinecrest.
Led by senior point guard Jordan McNeill, Lumberton has won by an average of 9 points per game in its Cinderella run. The Pirates will look for the glass slipper with tipoff against the Vikings (30-1) set for 7:35 p.m.
