OHSAA has press conference scheduled for Thursday


DRESDEN - Like everyone associated with high school sports, Tri-Valley girls basketball is in a holding pattern.

The Scotties' season is on hold, thanks to COVID-19, and coaches and players can no longer communicate due to the "no contact" mandate brought down by the Ohio High School Athletic Association last Friday. Schools are no longer in session.

In the meantime, players are left to only wonder what's coming next. The OHSAA has scheduled a press conference with Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass at noon on Thursday to update the status of winter tournaments and spring sports.

Tri-Valley coach Kurt Kaufman knows chances aren't good that the state tournament will be played, so he has elected to take a reflective approach.

"There are a lot of people suffering right now," Kaufman said. "Our girls, what they accomplished is amazing and the journey was wonderful. It was made possible because there were a lot of people that contributed to the team effort.

"I think you saw how special the Tri-Valley community was through all of this," he added. "We've chosen to focus on the journey and all the special memories, and the special relationships that came out of it."

Some players have been working out on their own to get up shots and work on individual skills. That is becoming increasingly difficult after Gov. Mike DeWine ruled that all gyms and rec centers be closed.

Senior Kyndal Howe said having no access to gyms make it difficult to stay in basketball shape and said the entire process has been frustrating to everyone. They've tried to keep the bigger picture in mind.

"We went from we're not playing and we're going to wait until this date, to hopefully having our state champions by June," Howe said. "We don't want to get let down again."

Howe said the day of the state semifinals remains fresh. Kaufman was already at St. John Arena preparing to scout the other semifinal, Beloit West Branch and Dayton Carroll, when they pulled the players off the court during warm-ups. It was then that Snodgrass made the announcement to postpone all winter tournaments.

Most players were still on their way to the arena when word began to circulate on social media. Howe said they still didn't believe it until a teammate already at the area said they were having everyone exit.

The team chose to stay at the hotel that night as it all processed.

"We all stayed at the hotel in case this may be the last time we get to hang out together," Howe said. "Knowing we all still had each other would make it better than being by ourselves."

Senior Audrey Spiker said the team convened in the hotel lobby and talked as a group, something she felt helped the team cope.

"We just kind of sat around and joked around, tried not to be sad anymore," Spiker said. "The next morning when we woke up, it was the worst, knowing that was (probably) the end of it."

The days since have been sobering reminders of what has been taken away.

"I didn't really realize how much my life revolved around basketball," Howe said. "I (likely) played my last game and didn't even realize it. I'm thankful for all of the memories we got to share, because we're never going to get that time back."

Spiker said she's hoping for the best but isn't overly optimistic.

"I think all of us are really disappointed about what is happening, but it's out of our control," Spiker said. "Knowing what could have been, it just sucks knowing that we had the potential to go farther, but we didn't have the opportunity."

Kaufman said the events in the days since made things more clear.

"As things evolve here we understand why it happened and why it happened at that moment," Kaufman said. "With Gov. DeWine talking, I don't think they wanted to get the tournament started. But that was a difficult moment. They deserved the chance to showcase themselves."

If it is the end, Spiker is glad she got the experience.

"We are definitely very thankful and proud of ourselves for accomplishing what we accomplished," Spiker said. "This year has definitely been an unbelievable experience."

Sam Blackburn is a reporter with the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be reached at, by phone at 740-450-6723 or on Twitter at @SamBlackburnTR.