Return policy: Answering the big questions as WPIAL teams get back on the court

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, January 7, 2021 | 11:19 PM

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Worried? Skeptical? Angry?

Choose your emotion, but WPIAL athletes and coaches were understandably nervous in the middle of December when Gov. Tom Wolf paused interscholastic sports for three weeks. Nobody was certain winter sports would resume any time soon.

However, Friday is finally game day, so expect a collective cheer statewide.

“We were all kind of prepared for the worst,” WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said. “We were expecting (the shutdown) to continue. It was a nice surprise.”

Wolf stuck to his original timeline and let his covid-19 shutdown end Monday, allowing high school teams across the state to jump back into their winter schedules.

The PIAA designated Friday as the first date teams could schedule competitions, assuming they’ve completed the required number of preseason practices. In the WPIAL, a large number of boys and girls basketball teams will be in action Friday night.

“Obviously, we’re happy with the decision,” said Scheuneman, before adding a word of caution.

“Schools need to continue to follow their protocols,” she said. “There’s no time to let your guard down. If we want to continue, everyone has to do their best effort to keep kids safe.”

Here’s a look at some key questions facing basketball teams in the WPIAL.

How are teams adjusting their schedules?

First off, every team will qualify for the WPIAL basketball playoffs this winter. The WPIAL board decided an open tournament was the best way to address an uncertain season and unbalanced standings.

In many ways, that relieved pressure to schedule strategically.

“If everybody makes the playoffs, then you might as well just play,” said North Hills boys coach Buzz Gabos, whose team has five games in the first nine days. “In the past I would have said there’s no way I’m going to play a section game and not have a day to prepare, or only have one day. Well, now, I’m like whatever.”

Scheuneman has encouraged teams to reschedule any section games missed during the shutdown. The WPIAL intends to recognize section champions, if possible.

Teams are limited to 22 games. The regular season was scheduled to end around Feb. 13, but the WPIAL extended that deadline to Feb. 26, allowing teams two additional weeks to play.

Coaches and athletic directors were sent scrambling to fill open dates.

“If you can play, you might as well play,” Gabos said. “We’re going to try to play 22 games. I think right now we’re about there. We have at least 20 and a couple we’ll wait and see.”

Can all teams start play Friday?

No. The PIAA requires teams to complete at least 10 preseason practices before they can start competition. Four of those workouts must have been after the shutdown.

In seasons past, teams needed 15 preseason practices before starting their schedules, but the PIAA reduced the requirement this winter to help schools that got a late start.

Teams that haven’t met those requirements must continue to practice.

Will basketball teams wear masks?

Some, yes. Some, no.

The WPIAL has heard from 54 schools that plan to require athletes to wear face coverings during competition.

“Safety is first in our mind,” said Bill Cleary, athletic director and girls basketball coach at Serra Catholic.

Serra will require its athletes to wear masks during games.

Among those 54 schools requiring masks, the WPIAL heard from 14 that said they won’t host a basketball team that doesn’t wear masks. As a result, the WPIAL expects a number of section games will be canceled.

“Let’s just get ourselves back on the floor and then as week by week goes by, we’ll learn everybody’s protocols,” said Cleary, who’s a member of the WPIAL board. “How many fans are going to be allowed in? How much locker room access?”

Serra Catholic hadn’t finalized its mask policy, but Cleary was hopeful his team would be able to play a full section schedule. He compared this ongoing schedule scramble to the process baseball and softball teams face after rainouts.

“The section games get the priority and then whatever days are left over we’ll try to get back to the exhibition games,” Cleary said. “We always know that the section games are of utmost importance. We’ve been indoctrinated like that our whole lives.”

WPIAL BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Here are Trib HSSN’s class-by-class basketball previews for the 2021 season.

BOYS

Class 6A

Class 5A

Class 4A

Class 3A

Class 2A

Class A

GIRLS

Class 6A

Class 5A

Class 4A

Class 3A

Class 2A

Class A

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.