More details concerning the boys’ and girls’ Sweet 16 were released at Thursday’s KHSAA Board of Control meeting.
On Tuesday, the KHSAA announced the boys’ state basketball tournament will be played March 31 through April 3 at Rupp Arena followed by the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16 on April 7-10.
Each tournament will be played over four days at Rupp Arena, with the semifinals and championship played on the final day, as a one-year accommodation due to the events being scheduled around Easter Sunday.
KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett said attendance for both tournaments will be restricted to 15-percent of capacity within the areas of the arena in-use however there’s a chance that number could increase to 25-percent.
Tackett said the KHSAA won’t know about a capacity increase until March.
Tackett told the board the ticketing process will change slightly with fewer complimentary tickets given because they count toward the capacity limits.
He also said social-distancing rules mean changes in configurations to allow for cheerleaders and recorded national anthems. Tackett also said there will likely be fewer recognitions held on the court of former players and teams.
The KHSAA has a COVID-19 rule in place that limits the number of schools that can be on one site for any type of tournament or event. The All A Classic State Tournament is scheduled for next month in Richmond and plans on bringing 16 teams per usual to Eastern Kentucky University for its boys’ and girls’ state tournament. Tackett said their social distancing plan was approved by the state, and that he didn’t see a reason for the KHSAA to nix that.
Tackett also told the board they are still working to secure a title sponsor for the Boys’ Sweet 16.
