Herald staff
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) announced Monday that no changes have been made to the state high school basketball tournaments despite a growing number of coronavirus cases in the state.
The Hardwood Classics — which involve the final 12 teams remaining in each classification — get underway Wednesday morning in Tacoma (4A and 3A boys and girls), Yakima (2A and 1A) and Spokane (2B and 1B) and run through Saturday.
Ten area teams are still alive in their respective tournaments: the Glacier Peak boys and girls (4A), Marysville Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell boys (3A), Arlington and Shorecrest girls (3A), Lakewood and Mountlake Terrace boys (2A), and King’s boys and girls (1A).
“WIAA Staff is in communication with the Washington State Department of Health and will continue to receive guidance regarding our upcoming events,” the WIAA said in a press release. “The safety of participants and fans is the primary focus of our organization and we encourage those planning to attend to follow the prevention guidelines distributed by the Center for Disease Control.”
The WIAA has been working with the arena staffs at each of the three sites — the Tacoma Dome, the Yakima Valley SunDome and the Spokane Arena — to treat “high-touch areas” with disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Increased hand sanitizer stations also will be made available throughout each site, the WIAA said, and the state Department of Health is encouraging attendees to spread out when possible as an extra preventative measure.
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