The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced March 19, 2020, that the remainder of the Boys Basketball State Tournament would be canceled.
“It is with great sadness and disappointment that we inform Hoosiers of the cancellation of the remaining games of the 2020 IHSAA boys basketball tournament series,” IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox said in a statement. “While the Association maintained every hope of continuance, it is now evident those hopes are now unreachable."
The IHSAA postponed the tournament indefinitely last Friday. With Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's latest decision March 20 to keep schools closed until May 1 shelved the rest of the tourney. It is the first time since the boys state tournament started in 1911 that state champions will not be crowned.
Snider, New Haven, Leo, Norwell, Churubusco, Blackhawk Christian and Southwood are all local teams that won sectional championships on March 7.
"We all sensed that we had played our last game when we met for what ended up being the final time of the 2019-20 season to take our Championship Picture," Snider head coach Jeremy Rauch wrote in a tweet. "Our goal was to Leave our Legacy, and this team did just that."
"Definitely not the way it was supposed to end, however this situation is much bigger than basketball," Leo boys basketball shared on social media. "Ending the season with a Sectional championship was the icing on the cake to a great season."
"Heartbroken for our coaches, players, cheerleaders, and fans," Blackhawk Christian athletics tweeted. "Thankful for the many moments you provided us with this season that we will never forget!" Blackhawk Christian won the 1A state championship a year ago.
Any decision on the Ispring sports schedule will be made "at a later time," the IHSAA added.