HSBB: Five area varsity hoops programs, one JV team in quarantine

Four varsity boys basketball programs in Beaufort County, as well as one varsity girls and one junior varsity boys team have suspended team activities for two weeks due to three positive COVID-19 tests among the teams and the potential that others within the programs have been exposed.

The Beaufort County School District confirmed Friday that the varsity boys teams at Battery Creek, Beaufort High, Bluffton, and May River, as well as the varsity girls and junior varsity boys at May River will be quarantined for two-week periods expiring the last week of December, depending on the date of potential exposure.

HS BASKETBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY

As of Friday morning, BCSD Director of Communications Dr. Candace Bruder said there had been only a total of three positive tests reported among five affected programs at four schools, but that number had increased to five students across seven programs at the affected schools.

Although the girls teams were not deemed close contacts with the boys and weren’t initially required to quarantine, largely as a result of mitigation measures the district has imposed to limit exposure outside the team such as clearing the gym and sanitizing surfaces nightly, that changed Friday afternoon. May River’s girls now have a positive test and have began their quarantine.

Other girls’ teams may have their schedules affected, even if they don’t have a player test positive. Many teams share staff, such as athletic trainers, and those staff members might be required to quarantine if they have been in close contact with the players who tested positive.

Numerous area teams have already had games postponed due to opponents being quarantined. Hilton Head High’s boys have had two of their first four scheduled games cancelled or postponed, and now tonight’s scheduled Bridge Bowl matchup against Bluffton has been added to the list.

May River’s boys and girls games at home against James Island on Friday and Battery Creek on Saturday have also been postponed, as well as Beaufort High’s boys game at Savannah Country Day on Friday.

Beaufort High and Bluffton squared off in a Region 7-4A matchup Tuesday. Battery Creek hosted Beaufort Academy on Tuesday, but BA athletics director Nick Field said his school’s teams are not affected.