Winter sports fans around the state were dealt a blow Wednesday as the KHSAA Board of Control announced a delayed start to the season.
Basketball, wrestling, swimming and the other winter sports, are now scheduled to start Jan. 4 with practices scheduled to resume Dec. 14. The basketball season will be shortened with district tournaments scheduled to start the first week of March and region tournaments to follow the next week.
The girls’ Sweet Sixteen is tentatively scheduled for March 17-21 while the boys’ tournament is scheduled for March 24-28.
Three area hoops coaches recently shared their thoughts on the delayed start to their season.
Rod Drake (Owensboro Red Devils)
“We are getting to play, that’s huge. Plus for Owensboro, this would be the first time in a while we have our fall athletes weeks prior to the season instead of days.”
Neil Hayden (Daviess County Panthers)
“I do not envy the KHSAA board for making decisions on dates for the winter sports. I am hopeful and encouraged by the board’s decision to vote to have a winter sports season. I realize it will be a shortened season but it’s a season nonetheless. The student-athletes at DCHS have been following the guidelines and are working hard to be ready for the season.”
Natalie Payne (Apollo E-gals)
“I told our kids today (Wednesday) that we must focus on the things we can control right now and this pandemic is out of our control. We must remain positive, stick together and continue to push forward. We are going to appreciate each moment that we get to step on that court and be together as a team.”
No boys’ teams have games scheduled for Jan. 4 as Trinity takes on Owensboro Catholic Jan. 5 in the 3rd Region All “A” Classic Tournament while Daviess County hosts Breckinridge County.
On the girls’ side, Catholic hosts Edmonson County in the 3rd Region All “A” Classic Tournament on Jan. 4 while Apollo is at home against Henderson County on the same day.
