By Brian Argabright
A basketball season that was already facing an amended schedule has come to a premature end.
San Felipe Del Rio CISD Athletic Director Ric Smith confirmed Monday afternoon that the 2020-21 basketball season has come to an end for the Del Rio High School’s boys and girls teams.
UIL activities at the high school were suspended Jan. 6 due to the high COVID-19 positivity rate in the community. Plans were for the suspension to last two weeks, but the suspension was extended two more weeks beginning Jan. 15.
The suspension came three games into the Queens’ district schedule. Their last game of the season was a 45-34 loss to the Laredo Nixon Lady Mustangs Dec. 22. The Queens finished the season with a 5-10 record including a 1-2 mark in district.
“It is true that our basketball season has ended for this year. Navigating the many mitigation procedures for COVID since the beginning of the season, along with getting shutdown after Christmas break and not knowing if we’d get to start up again has been a rollercoaster ride for all involved. I feel that our players and coaches have handled the uncertainty of the situation as best we could, and we’re thankful for the games that we did get to play. I’m very proud of the 20 athletes and one manager that braved the pandemic to be a part of Queens basketball this season. We hope that our spring sports teams will eventually get to compete and then complete their seasons as a springboard for a more normal school year starting next fall,” Queens head coach Chris Jost said.
The Rams’ last game of the season was a 56-53 win over the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs Jan. 5. They finish the season 6-8 overall and 1-2 in district.
Smith explained last week that even if the high school basketball season was reinstated at Del Rio High the Rams and Queens would still need to make up games to be eligible for district certification. However, the lack of time would mean the teams would need to play three or four games a week to catch up to the rest of the teams in the district. That was something that was impossible due to scheduling conflicts and safety concerns for the players involved.
As for the high school’s spring sports, Smith outlined the district’s current plan.
“We hope to resume practices tomorrow, but will not be competing for two more weeks, hoping our and the other district teams’ positivity rate continues to drop,” Smith said.
