With nearly every sporting event being canceled or postponed, the IHSAA announced on Thursday that the boys basketball tournament will go on as scheduled with limited spectators.

“The Indiana High School Athletic Association continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 around our state,” IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox announced. “Our primary focus has been and will continue to be the health and safety of our students and supporters attending our events.”

“Given the recent and ongoing spread of the Corona Virus and study of the available information around this pandemic, the IHSAA will conclude the boys’ basketball tournament series events as scheduled with only essential staff and immediate family in attendance.”

The IHSAA is trying to limit the crowd under 250 people that the CDC has suggested. Each school will be allowed a maximum of 75 admissions – including coaches, administrators, support staff. There will be no charge for those spectators with social separation encouraged. The commissioner announced that there will be no pregame or postgame handshakes along with no cheerleaders, pep bands, or spirit teams.

“We’ve been monitoring this situation for quite some time – even before the sectional began. We’ve been in constant contact with various health groups and individuals to determine the best course of action. In the last 48 hours, things have changed. Things in our community have changed, things in our state have changed.”For people that have purchased tickets, refunds are available from point of purchase.

The IHSAA is also hosting the gymnastics state finals this weekend, but due to the number of participates, there will be no spectators.

For the boys’ basketball tournament, there are no venue changes planned.

“At the regional level, 15 of 16 sites have no confirmed cases in the hosting counties.”

A postponement is still possible, but the IHSAA is trying to play out the tournament.

“We postponed the basketball tournament several years ago for weather, and we did it for coal crisis back in the day, an energy crisis.”

Cox noted that regular season competitions for spring sports are completely up to the member schools.