HS BASKETBALL: More COVID-related shutdowns for Lackawanna League teams
Feb. 28—Additional cases of COVID-19 could put the postseason fate of the Dunmore girls basketball program in the hands of District 2 administrators.
The same holds true for the Holy Cross boys team.
A total of three Dunmore girls players have now tested positive, and because of the timing of the cases and the state-mandated quarantine protocols, the earliest the Lady Bucks could return to action is Friday. The team is currently seeded second in the Class 4A playoffs, but the dates initially posted by District 2 call for that bracket to begin play Thursday.
Holy Cross paused its boys basketball season because of a COVID-19 situation within the program and canceled Saturday's game at home against Riverside. The Crusaders are eligible to return to play, barring any setbacks, Saturday. They are currently the No. 2 seed in Class 2A, with those District 2 playoffs scheduled to begin Friday. Holy Cross played Dunmore and Lackawanna Trail, which also moved into quarantine, last week. The Lions' administration found out while the team was in action Saturday against Elk Lake. Elk Lake is considered a contact 2 by the Department of Health and, for now, does not need to quarantine.
"From the get-go, the kids have done everything that we have asked of them in terms of safety," Holy Cross coach and athletic director Al Callejas said. "The reality is that you can do everything right and still get this illness. That is unfortunate.
"I told our kids that we need to stay positive. We may still have an opportunity to play. You get in situations and you deal with them the best you can. We will stay in touch with each other and hopefully we get an opportunity to walk onto the floor and play Saturday."
It is conceivable that District 2 could modify its schedule so Dunmore, a state quarterfinal qualifier in Class 3A last season, and Holy Cross would have an extra day to complete their quarterfinal games. Those decisions are expected to come Monday afternoon during a District 2 committee videoconference with chairman Frank Majikes to formally set brackets, opponents and dates for the tournament.
A Dunmore School District release confirmed the Lady Bucks' cases, and also said the boys team has a positive test, too.
"The Dunmore High School Athletic Department has been made aware of additional COVID-19 cases within our girls' basketball program," the statement said. "In addition we were also made aware of a new case in our Boys program. The Department of Health was contacted and through their guidance, close contacts have been notified. Our programs will abide by all DOH (Department of Health) and PIAA guidelines. We will continue to notify the public in a transparent way."
Dunmore's COVID-19 situation sent the Holy Cross and Old Forge girls programs — the last two teams to play the Lady Bucks — into quarantine protocols.
"Our hope still is that our tests will still give us an opportunity to play in the district tournament," Dunmore girls coach Ben O'Brien said. "I'm very optimistic the district would look to accommodate teams that are in very unusual circumstances this season.
'I think the district and the schools have done a great job this year of just giving our kids an opportunity to play any games. So, I have every confidence in the world that they will keep on doing what is in the best interests of the student-athletes."
Nine Lackawanna League programs have now been forced to put the brakes on their district playoff preparations because of COVID-19 situations: the Holy Cross, Dunmore, Lackawanna Trail, Mid Valley, Mountain View and Susquehanna boys; and the Dunmore, Holy Cross and Old Forge girls.
Dunmore's boys are hopeful the timeline still works in their favor, with the team planning to play its opening-round district game as scheduled. Athletic director Mark Finan verified Monday's game with Lakeland is canceled and will be recorded as a no contest, as was the Dunmore girls' league game with Mid Valley.
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