CIF extends winter sports regular season due to postponements from coronavirus pandemic; key dates

In response to rising coronavirus cases throughout Southern California that have forced numerous postponements, CIF Southern Section officials said Wednesday they are allowing extra days to complete regular seasons for girls and boys basketball, girls water polo and boys and girls soccer.

CIF state officials earlier ruled that makeup games can be played on Sunday, so squads will be able to play games up until Sunday, Feb. 6. Originally, regular season games in basketball were to be completed by Friday, Feb. 4.

While the announcement of CIF playoff pairings has been revised, the playoff dates remain the same.

“As the ever-changing situation with COVID-19 continues, we know the number of games that have been postponed to this point has been an extremely difficult challenge for our member schools to overcome. Some sports are affected more than others, but the ability to remain on course and complete original schedules has been deepl affected by the pandemic,” CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod said in a letter to principals and shared with the media.

“As you know, end dates for our Southern Section regular seasons are heavily influenced by CIF Southern Regional and CIF State Championship events that take place after our Southern Section Championships are concluded. Currently, the original dates for the CIF Southern Regional and CIF State Championship events remain as scheduled and whether they are revised or not going forward remains to be seen.”

Wigod added:

“We want to make every effort possible to get our regular seasons completed on time and our Southern Section Championships accomplished as well.”

The memo comes on a week where teams continue to postpone games. The latest boys basketball postponements Wednesday were the Los Alamitos vs. Newport Harbor and Santa Ana-Orange games. The Santa Ana-Orange game will be made up on on Monday, Jan. 24, according to Santa Ana Coach Fareed ElMasry.

While it appears not as many postponements have had to be made this week, athletic directors have been scrambling to make-up games postponed last week.

ADJUSTED SCHEDULE:

Boys/Girls Basketball

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Time – TBA

Wild Card – Boys – Wednesday, Feb. 9; and Girls – Tuesday, February 10 

1^st  Round – Boys – Friday, Feb. 11; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 12 (Open – 1^st Round)

2^nd Round – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 15; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 16 (Open – 2^nd Round) 

Quarterfinals – Boys – Friday, Feb.18; Girls – Saturday, Feb.19 (Open – 3^rd Round)

Semifinals – Boys – Tuesday, Feb.22; Girls – Feb. 23 

Finals (All Divisions – Home Sites) – Friday/Saturday, Feb. 25/26 

Boys/Girls Soccer

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Time – TBA

Wild Card – Boys – Wednesday Feb. 9; Girls – Thursday, Feb. 10 

1^st Round – Boys – Friday, Feb. 11; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 12

2^nd Round – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 15; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 16

Quarterfinals – Boys – Friday, Feb. 18; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 19 

Semifinals – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 22; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 23 

Finals (Home Sites) – Saturday, Feb. 26 

Girls Water Polo

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Monday, Feb. 7 – 1 p.m.

Wild Card – 32-Team Brackets Only – Tuesday, Feb. 8 

1^st Round – 32-Team Brackets or Wild Card 16 -Team Brackets – Wednesday, Feb. 9

Round of 16 – Thursday, Feb. 10 (Open – 1^st Round)

Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 12 

Semifinals (All Divisions) – Wednesday, Feb. 16 

Finals (All Divisions – Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine) – Saturday, Feb. 19

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com