PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors kept the door open this morning on having the State High School Basketball Tournaments and the Spring Sports Championships. The Board of Directors met via teleconference this morning (Friday) and kept open the possiblity of the State High School Basketball Tournaments being played in the middle part of June and heard a plan for an abbreviated Springs Sports Calender that would have High School Track and Field, Girls and Class B Boys Golf and Boys Tennis still have their state tournaments. The key is May 4th. That is when South Dakota Schools would have the opportunity to resume classes after being shut down for 6 weeks by Governor Kristi Noem and the State Health Department due to the Coronavirus (COVID 19) Pandemic. If the Governor gives the schools a clear sign to resume classes, the State Tennis Tournaments could be played on May 22nd and 23rd while Track and Field would have one weekend for Region qualifying meets and then the State High School Track and Field meet on May 29-30. The State Golf tournaments would still be played as scheduled on June 1 and 2nd and Region Tournaments in the Class A and B levels could be played on May 26th. The State High School Basketball Tournaments could still be played from June 15 through the 20th although SDHSAA staff may have to adjust sites and venues as well depending on if the board wanted to continue with championship and consolation rounds. But if the Governor instructs schools to remain closed during the month of May the Board would then re-convene to decide what to to. The board decided to table all final decisions on spring sports seasons and state basketball tournaments for a later date, allowing staff to continue to make adjustments to what would be an abbreviated schedule if school sessions resume on May 4 as scheduled. The next regular Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for April 22nd in Pierre.
