Indiana's high school basketball state tournament will go on, but it will do so in nearly empty gyms.

IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox said on Thursday that the state tournament will move forward with attendance limitations in place, starting Saturday at 16 regional sites.

In a news conference, Cox announced that only essential tournament personnel, limited school administrators, immediate family members, broadcast television and credentialed media members will be allowed to be in arenas.

Cox said a max of 75 admissions will be set aside for each school for the regional. Those who purchased tickets will receive a refund. The IHSAA will work with each regional host to stream every game.

"In the last 48 hours, things have changed," said Cox. "Things around the country have changed. We are trying to stay up with that. We still want to provide our young people with an opportunity to participate in the state finals.

"It's an ongoing process. This may change moving forward. That is where we are at today."

This decision comes amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirurs. It was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday and has infected over 1,000 people across the United States over the past week. That number is expected to increase in the coming days with officials hoping to limit large-scale gatherings.

As of now, this also will be the plan for the semistate and state championship rounds. In Southwestern Indiana, teams from Reitz, Heritage Hills, Washington, South Spencer and Barr-Reeve are set to compete in the regional this weekend.

"We find ourselves in unchartered territory with COVID-19," said EVSC athletics director Andy Owen. "We understand the guidelines set forth by the IHSAA and fully support the decision to put the safety of our schools and communities at the forefront of all decisions."

The state tournament has seen disruptions before, but they're far from common. In 1978, during the national energy crisis, the tournament was pushed back three weeks and was completed in the middle of April.

Still, the state tournament has never been canceled. That was the fear from Barr-Reeve Josh Thompson as recently as last night. He is relieved there will currently be basketball played in whatever shape or form.

His message to the team: control what you can control. The Vikings will play in the Loogootee Regional.

"I know there is a lot of disappointed being in that they won't be able to attend games," said Thompson. "But at the end of the day, I'm confident our administration will do a good job. We just feel very fortunate as a basketball family at Barr-Reeve that the IHSAA is going to continue with the tournament. There was a very real possibility, I think, they could have canceled.

"What we have to control is our approach to practice and what ultimately happens on 84 feet of the basketball floor on Saturday."

Indiana is not the first state to take such steps in stopping the spread of coronavirus in regards to its basketball state tournament. Connecticut canceled its tournament last week, while Ohio, Illinois and others are limiting fan attendance. Kentucky announced on Thursday it is postponing the girls' and boys' basketball Sweet 16 until further notice.

Washington Community High School is one of the host schools, in addition to having its team compete in the Class 3A regional.

"Although many folks are going to be disappointed, the safety and well-being of the student athletes and all individuals are what need to be considered here," said Washington athletics director Larry Cochren. "We will continue to follow the guidance of the IHSAA and follow all procedures and regulations that they have set in place."

This also comes on the heels of several postponements or limitations set in place on Wednesday in relation to COVID-19.

The NCAA announced that its upcoming championship events, which include the Division I men's and women's basketball tournament, will be conducted without fans in attendance. That decision impacted Evansville, which will host the Division II Elite Eight at Ford Center from March 26-28.

The Big Ten and other conferences first announced restrictions before canceling their own tournament. The NBA put its regular season on hiatus after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.

But the decision's impacts aren't exclusively national. In small towns across the state, most basketball fans will have to experience the rest of the state tournament through Internet or television broadcasts.

“We are excited to be playing, but it is going to be weird for both teams playing knowing only 75 people from each school can attend," said Heritage Hills coach Nate Hawkins.

"Well, (it is a) disappointment for our players, our school, our community," added South Spencer coach Matt Britton. "I know how much this Saturday meant to everybody and that experience for our community and regional Saturday together. That being said, I understand the decision made by the IHSAA, which is certainly trying to look after the best interest of everyone’s health.

"You can’t question the decision at all given circumstances. It's just disappointing that the experience for everyone involved in our community and school will be different than anticipated."

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