Upperman and Stone Memorial will play semifinal state tournament basketball Friday in an empty Murphy Center at MTSU.
The TSSAA made the decision to limit attendance Friday and throughout the remainder of the tournament because of the coronavirus. TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress called it a very difficult decision.
“We do not know everything about this virus,” Childress said. “We know it is more contagious than the flu. We do not need to be in a situation where we are contributing to that.”
Childress said officials spoke to medical experts from Vanderbilt Medical Center Thursday morning before making a final decision.
“They definitely encouraged us to make some changes,” Childress said. “They looked at our plan and they felt very comfortable based on the information we have that we were headed in the right direction.”
Not only will attendees be limited at the Murphy Center, but officials will encourage them not to sit together.
The boys basketball championships next week, featuring Clay County, Monterey, Upperman, and York Institute, will also be played without fans in attendance. Childress said the TSSAA will continue to evaluate conditions in case the current decision needs to be changed.
“This is a very fluid situation,” Childress said. “If something changes and we get to the point where we have to complete postpone both tournaments, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
Childress said there will be economic ramifications from the decision, but said that’s not part of the thought process now.
