The Illinois High School Association announced Thursday morning that they will be limiting attendance at remaining IHSA Boys Basketball State Series games to 60 spectators per school to preemptively reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. The decision comes after the Illinois Department of Health and the Peoria City/ County Health Department were consulted and recommended no more than 60 spectators per school be allowed in Carver Arena in Peoria for this weekend’s 1A and 2A State Final games. The IHSA plans to invoke this limitation across the board at all remaining IHSA Boys Basketball State Series games in 3A and 4A Basketball as well.
This will affect Goreville Blackcats fans who planned to go upstate to support the team on Friday and Saturday. IHSA has guaranteed full refunds to any tickets already purchased.
Additionally, IHSA has postponed the 1A and 2A State Finals of the Country Financial Three-Point Showdown. Multiple area athletes were set to compete in that event. In 1A, Jacob Sutton of Steeleville, Trevor Hale of Galatia, Tony Lakotich of Crab Orchard, and Lucas Frederking, among others, were set to compete in the competition. In 2A, DuQuoin’s Caden Hutchens, Fairfield’s Blake Pruitt, Murphysboro’s JaQuan Jackson, and Nashville’s Nolan Heggemeier were among the ones in the finals.
Several other events have also been affected, which can be found here.
