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MHSAA suspends postseason tournaments

DOLLAR BAY — At around 11 a.m. Thursday, Dollar Bay-Tamarack City boys basketball coach Jesse Kentela was arranging the logistics of the team’s upcoming district final against Chassell, originally scheduled for Friday night.

In light of the COVID-19 virus, the Michigan High School Athletic Association had just issued an update Thursday morning that the tournament games would be limited to immediate personnel and families.

Nobody would have attended the game except for essential staff, parents and media.

At around 2 p.m., any plans he had made had to be scratched. The MHSSA had just suspended the season.

The statement read:

“The Ice Hockey, Girls Gymnastics and Lower Peninsula Boys Swimming & Diving Finals had been scheduled for this weekend, while the Girls & Boys Basketball Tournaments are midway through earlier rounds of their playoff progressions.”

On Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recommended a stoppage of large gatherings in order to assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“Based on the events of the last 48 hours and with things changing by the minute, we believe we have no choice but to suspend our winter tournaments immediately,” MHSAA executive director Mark Uyl said. “This is a suspension until we have a better handle on the situation. The health and welfare of everyone involved is our number one priority.”

Kentela could see it coming.

“When the NBA shuts down you could sense the dominoes were going to fall,” he said. “So, it wasn’t a complete shock but it was certainly a big disappointment.”

Next, he had to inform his team.

“We had team dinner last night and we talked about it then,” he said. “One of our questions is what does it mean to have the tournament suspend indefinitely? When are we going to play it? We seem to be in limbo?”

He said his team was also disappointed but not surprised.

“There is so much talk and hype about this that they weren’t really shocked,” Kentela said. “They could see it coming.”

In Baraga, girls’ basketball head coach Tom Goodreau told a similar story. His Baraga Vikings were set to start regional play against L’Anse on Thursday night at Michigan Tech’s SDC.

“I was headed to the school for a pep rally, when I found out that our game was suspended,” Goodreau said. “I was disappointed but could see it coming.”

He said his girls were equally disappointed and of the belief that ultimately their season is over.

“It’s hard because they are teenagers and just don’t understand this kind of stuff,” he said. I let them that sometimes in life there are things that happen and we have no control over. However how we react to that is a real testament to our character.”

The Vikings will continue to practice until told otherwise to. So will the Blue Bolts in Dollar Bay.

Both coaches added that he would not be surprised if the rest of the tournament was canceled within the next few days.

“I can see the writing on the wall,” he said. “We would love to play and get this game in, but ultimately, the health of the team and everybody is paramount. I don’t have a lot of hope that we play again, but we will wait and see.”

Calumet hockey

The Calumet hockey team traveled to Plymouth for Friday’s Division 3 state semifinal against Detroit Country Day.

Copper Kings head coach Dan Giachino did not respond to a request for comment before press time.

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