Crescent City-Calvary Baptist state boys basketball championship game moved to Baton Rouge due to COVID-19 concerns

Top-seeded Crescent City Christian will now have to play its Division IV state championship game Saturday against Calvary Baptist at 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge, not at home in Metairie at 7 p.m.

On Friday, the LHSAA has ceded to the request of Calvary Baptist to move the game out of Metairie because persons in Jefferson Parish have tested positive for COVID-19, otherwise known as the Coronavirus.

Baton Rouge has not had anyone testing positive, to this point, so that city was chosen to host the game, which will be played at Lee Magnet High School. The proclamation by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards later Friday afternoon that closes public schools statewide and bans gatherings of more than 250 people means the rest of the state select and non-select boys basketball championship games will be played without fans or school support groups.

LHSAA has released an official statement regarding #MarshMadness

LHSAA events remain as scheduled but only the following are allowed in attendance:

student-athletes
coaches
officials
school admin.
LHSAA staff
Burton staff
City staff
security
NHFS staff
credentialed media pic.twitter.com/RjaNmjOmGF

— Brady Renard KPLC (@RenardSports) March 13, 2020

Upon hearing the intiial decision, Crescent City head coach Shaun Dumas was not happy with the venue change.

“They called yesterday and our head of school told them we did not want to move it,” Dumas said. “We went through every measure to make sure it was a safe environment with the most thorough sanitizing and cleaning you could perform. They had to make a decision and they did it. We are so disappointed.”

Dumas feels he understands what precipitated the move.

“The superintendent’s son of Calvary Baptist plays on the team,” Dumas said. “I’m not happy. We spent a lot of money on this game to try to make sure it was a good experience for the kids, fans and the community. It will go down the drain. It is a hard pill to swallow but we have to focus on the task at hand.”

Despite the disappointment, the Pioneers are still excited, perhaps even more motivated.

“The biggest thing is we still get a chance to play for a championship,” Dumas said. “We get a chance to finish the deal. We have to remain focused. That is the most important thing. I think the kids are locked in a little more after what is happened, finding out less than 48 hours that they have to play in a new gym they have never seen. They will be ready to rock and roll. We will be ready.”

Dumas knows that safety is important but made an interesting point.

“It is really about the kids and really about the virus,” Dumas said. “It is not like Jefferson Parish people will not be in the building in Baton Rouge. Our kids and coaches will be there. Our parents and students and fans will be there. Does that make sense?”

Crescent City Christian (22-13) has played the most challenging schedule in Division IV, posting wins over Carver, Bossier, Booker T. Washington, Jehovah-Jireh, McMain and Sophie B. Wright. In the playoffs, the Pioneers have defeated Westminster Christian, Riverside Academy and St. Mary’s.

Calvary Baptist (23-9), the sixth seed, has playoff victories over Vermilion Catholic, Opelousas Catholic and second-seeded Hamilton Christian, who had knocked out Country Day in the quarterfinals. The Cajuns own a victory over the Pioneers this season.

“Calvary Baptist is well coached and disciplined,” Dumas said. “They know what they are good at and they know how to get the ball to their guys. I think pace, dictating the pace will be very important. We have to set the tone and play with pace and not allow them to get us out of our game. If we play our game, I feel confident. I feel confident either way. I believe in our kids and we are suitably motivated.”