IESA Headlines

Boys Basketball Information

January 26, 2021

To IESA Member Schools:

The IESA Board of Directors held a special meeting on Tuesday, January 26. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the feasibility of conducting the IESA boys basketball state series. As most of you know, schools in an EMS region that is at a Phase 4 mitigation level are now allowed to play basketball.

Our current boys basketball schedule sets the 7th grade regionals to begin on Saturday, February 20. Most schools will have played 2-2 ½ weeks of a regular season before those regionals begin. Obviously, that is not a lot of time to get prepared for regional tournament play.

The Board of Directors voted to give IESA boys basketball schools three additional weeks of regular season play by removing the regional and sectional tournaments that were previously scheduled for the last three weeks of the season. Regular season contests may be scheduled through the end date of the boys basketball season- March 12. As a reminder, students need to have 7 days of practice before they can participate in a game. Schools are limited to 15 contests.

The Board simply felt that the shortness of the regular season did not lend itself to a boys basketball state series this year. By making this decision, schools now have the option to schedule games through March 12. The Board did not entertain any thought of extending the boys basketball season further into March as that will only create more conflict with IESA girls volleyball, girls basketball, and IHSA girls and boys basketball.

The Board has a regularly scheduled meeting this Friday, January 29 at which time additional decisions will be made regarding the remaining sports and activities.

Please contact our office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Steve Endsley
Executive Director