Serving the High Plains

State basketball tournament to go on without fans

Amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, the New Mexico State Basketball Tournaments will proceed without the general public being allowed to attend.

The New Mexico Activities Association announced on its Twitter page at 10:06 p.m. Wednesday: “Per the guidance of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham & recommendations from the New Mexico Department of Health, the remainder of the 2020 State Basketball Tournament will go on as scheduled, however without fans.”

Every team will be allowed 20 members, including players, coaches and administrators. A maximum of 100 people will be allowed in buildings. Media is also excluded from the games.

The top-seeded Logan girls basketball team will face, as regularly scheduled, fourth-seeded Pine Hill at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

The winner of that game faces the winner of the Melrose-Fort Sumner game in the championship at 10 a.m. Saturday at Dreamstyle Arena, aka The Pit, in Albuquerque.

The NMAA recommends fans wishing to watch the games to stream them online through the NFHS Network (NFHSNetwork.com, subscription required).