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MIL announces fans are not allowed at games, ‘effective immediately’

League will re-evaluate the decision due to COVID concerns weekly

The Maui Interscholastic League emailed a news release to The Maui News on Friday that announced that fans will not be allowed at MIL events, “effective immediately,” due to COVID-19 concerns.

The release continued “all MIL events will be limited to essential participants only. Depending on the venue, events have and will continue to be streamed on the NFHS networks or other streaming services offered by the schools.

“As the situation remains fluid, the MIL will meet weekly to assess, discuss any issues and/or concerns and determine any adjustments. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

The league’s basketball coordinator, Jon Conrad, the athletic director at Lahainaluna High School, emailed The Maui News a list of 11 games that have been postponed this weekend — the list includes boys and girls varsity contests in Divisions I and II, and one junior varsity boys contest.

Conrad told The Maui News that attempts will be made to make up the games, but logistics will be a large challenge. The hurdles include travel, limited time left in the season, and availability of venues, referees and support staff for new dates.

Conrad also said that with the strong possibility that some teams will play more league games than others, the determination of seeding the MIL tournaments and spots in the state tournaments will be decided at a later date.

The girls basketball state tournaments are set for Oahu in mid-February. Boys basketball tournaments run Feb. 28 and March 3-5 on Oahu.

Canoe paddling, soccer, wrestling, and swimming and diving — for boys and girls — are all set to begin competition in the MIL later this month.

The MIL policy to not allow fans at games follows similar protocols recently put in to place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.

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