Mark Uyl

LANSING — The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced in a fairly brief statement on Thursday afternoon that all postseason tournaments it conducts have been suspended immediately.

Due to concerns over the coronavirus, the hockey, girls and boys basketball, gymnastics and Lower Peninsula swimming and diving events were called off with no specific timetable for possible rescheduling.

Among area schools, that meant that Thursday’s Division 2 state semifinal game between Marquette and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice to be played in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth was called off, as was the Westwood vs. Charlevoix Division 3 girls basketball regional championship game in Sault Ste. Marie.

In addition, Marquette had at least one athlete set to attend the state gymnastics finals this weekend, while a number of schools had their boys basketball teams involved in district championship games that were set for tonight.

That statement from the MHSAA said that on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recommended a stoppage of large gatherings to assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“Based on the events of the last 48 hours and with things changing by the minute, we believe we have no choice but to suspend our winter tournaments immediately,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “This is a suspension until we have a better handle on the situation. The health and welfare of everyone involved is our No. 1 priority.”

Uyl added that more information and updates will be forthcoming over the next few days.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.