McDowell boys end their season after having to quarantine
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
TAYLORSVILLE – Alexander Central High’s boys won’t play two games scheduled this week after notification of a possible close contact with COVID-19 over the weekend.
Jonathan Watts, the Cougars’ sports information director, said in a Monday night e-mail the varsity boys’ team:
— Won’t play Tuesday night’s Northwestern 3A-4A game at Hickory. The junior varsity girls will meet at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity girls.
— Will play, as scheduled, Watauga’s boys at Alexander Central on Thursday at 6 p.m.
— Will not play on Friday at home against South Caldwell. That decision changed a Feb. 12 game between the schools – Alexander Central won 45-35 — from a non-conference game to a conference game and changed those standings (see post for boys’ standings).
South Caldwell’s girls will play at Alexander Central on Friday with the JVs tipping at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game following.
The Northwestern 3A-4A will not play conference tournaments due to COVID-19.
The league earns one automatic bid in 3A and 4A for the state tournaments.
Currently, Hickory’s boys are atop the 3A standings (7-1, with one game left) with the next closest 3A team, Alexander Central, at 5-3.
In 3A girls, Freedom (6-0) leads Hickory (5-1) by one game.
It appears South Caldwell (5-4) will earn the top 4A boys seed, that coming after McDowell (6-3) decided to stop its boys’ season after a COVID-19 outbreak.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) had already indicated that any team qualifying for a state playoff bid that could not then play because of a quarantine would not be replaced in a bracket.
In 4A girls, South Caldwell girls (4-5) and McDowell girls (3-5) will determine the 4A spot. The Spartans are scheduled to play at home on Tuesday against St. Stephens and at Alexander Central on Friday while the Titans face Watauga on Thursday in Marion and Freedom on Friday, also at McDowell.
Bandys adjusts schedule for Tuesday’s games
Bandys has changed the order of games for Tuesday and its Senior Night.
The Trojans’ varsity boys will play Lake Norman Charter at 6:15 p.m., and the varsity girls game will follow.
