A near-empty arena will be site of Madison, Mater Dei state tournament games
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After a summer of conditioning followed by a grueling 36-game schedule, senior guard Walter Bursey and the Madison Trojans kept their dream of a championship alive by reaching the Class 1A state basketball tournament.
On Friday at 11:15 a.m., the Trojans will take the court at Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center in a Class 1A state semifinal against Aurora Christian two wins away from reaching state title.
The crowds won’t be exactly as he imagined, though.
In an effort to reduce the potential spread of coronavirus, the Illinois High School Association announced Thursday that it will limit attendance at the remaining games in the IHSA boys basketball state series, as well as at other IHSA events.
Instead of playing before thousands of its fans, Madison and seven other Class 1A and 2A teams will be playing before less than 400, most of them family members and school administration. Carver Arena at the Peoria Community Center has capacity for more than 11,450.
“It’s very disappointing, but we’re treating it like any other game,” Bursey said on Thursday. “Our dream all year has been to win the state tournament. We’re playing our best basketball of the season, we’re focused and we’re going to bring home the state championship trophy on Saturday night.”
The Mater Dei Knights are competing in the Class 2A state tournament and will take on three-time defending state champion Chicago Orr in a 5:30 p.m. semifinal on Friday.
Defending Class 3A state champion East St. Louis is playing Chatham-Glenwood in the Class 3A Mount Vernon Sectional final on Friday, while Southwestern Conference champion Collinsville is playing Normal West in a Class 4A sectional title contest at Pekin High School.
Schools are being allowed just 60 tickets each.
“Its unfortunate that that our fans who have supported this basketball team will not have the opportunity to watch these young people in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Madison athletic director Darnell Marshall said. “But we also understand that this is a precautionary step by the IHSA for the health and safety of everyone.”
Marshall said the tickets are being distributed to Madison coaches and players for their families. The names will be put on a list and given to the IHSA.
‘Disappointed that our fans can’t attend’
One person who knows about playing at Carver Arena is Madison assistant coach Phillip Gilbert, who played college basketball at Bradley University in Peoria.
Gilbert said the team learned the news Thursday morning on its the way to Peoria.
“The health and safety of everyone takes priority and we, the coaches and players, understand that. It’s just unfortunate for everyone that the fans of our city will not have the opportunity to watch these young men enjoy something they have worked very hard to achieve which is to play at the state tournament.” Gilbert said.
Mater Dei High School Principal Dennis Litteken said each Knights player has been allotted four tickets each for his family members.
“You know we’re disappointed that our fans can’t attend,” Litteken said. “It was a tough decision I’m sure for the IHSA to make, but this (coronavirus) is something which affects people around the nation and throughout the world.”
An East St. Louis High School spokesperson said that 46 tickers have been allotted to their players and families with the remaining 14 being used by school and district administration.
Collinsville coach Darin Lee, whose team will carry a record of 31-3 into the sectional final against Normal West, said its a difficult situation for everyone involved.
“It is such an unfortunate situation for all players, coaches, students, parents, and fans with this pandemic. The IHSA state tournament is a once in a lifetime event. Right now, we just hope we get to play the games with everyone’s safety in mind,” Lee said “Whether there is a packed house or no fans, our Kahok players will always be ready to play.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 2:58 PM.
