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Positive cases force teams to end seasons early

ALPENA — Positive cases of COVID-19 have brought an abrupt end to the season for several local basketball teams.

As of Monday night, both the Rogers City boys and girls basketball teams, the Alcona boys basketball team and the Oscoda girls basketball team were all out of the state tournament due to positive tests.

The tournament began Monday for girls basketball and starts today for boys basketball.

Rogers City athletic director Karl Grambau also announced Monday that Rogers City’s boys district game against Tawas is canceled and Rogers City’s wrestling team will not compete in team regionals or individual regionals this week.

Rogers City’s girls basketball team withdrew from the tournament on Sunday after a positive COVID-19 contact at Rogers City Area Schools.

“We felt fortunate that we were able to complete our regular season and then at the same time were deflated with the news that our season would not include a (Michigan High School Athletic Association) tournament appearance,” Rogers City girls coach Duane Pitts said. “I feel bad for all of our players, but especially our three seniors.  This season was strange due to the COVID-19 cloud above all of our heads and never knowing when that storm might come crashing down.”

For the second year in a row, the Rogers City boys team had its season end sooner than expected. Last season, the Hurons advanced to a district final before the remainder of the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic.

It didn’t make this year’s news any easier.

“It’s very unfortunate for the second year in a row we can’t compete our season. I feel bad for the seniors and all seniors that this may happen to,” Rogers City coach Matt Ponik said. “The inability to complete our season is devastating.”

The Alcona boys team was another casualty in the same Division 3 district, which also includes Tawas, Whittemore-Prescott and Oscoda.

Alcona Community Schools announced on Monday positive tests related to basketball and bowling. That announcement meant forfeiting a district game and an end to the season for the boys basketball team.

In the girls tournament, Oscoda’s hopes for a long tournament run are no more

After finishing 17-1 in the regular season, the Owls had a positive test and are out of the tournament.

It was not immediately known at press time whether the Alcona girls and Oscoda boys basketball teams were still participating in their respective tournaments. Alcona is scheduled to play on Wednesday and Oscoda is scheduled to play Thursday, according to the tournament schedule.

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