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WBCA All-Star Game cancelled due to COVID-19
WBCA

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association announced the cancellation of its annual Boys and Girls All-Star Games set for Aug. 5-6 at the JustAGame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells due to concerns about the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The games were originally scheduled for June 19 and 20 before being rescheduled to Aug. 5-6. 

“The safety of players, coaches, fans, referees, and staff is our utmost concern and priority,” wrote Jerry Petitgoue, the executive director of WBCA Charities, Inc, in a release.

“We realize that this is disappointing to the players, parents, coaches and fans, but we have a number of reasons for our decision other than safety, including: 1) ability for those in restricted areas to travel; 2) exposure for students who are going to college and may need to quarantine prior to leaving.”

Platteville’s Josie Nies was selected for the Division 3 Girls’ game, while Iowa–Grant’s Olivia Liddicoat was set to join River Ridge’s Skylar White and Black Hawk’s Natalie Leuzinger and Hannah Butler on the Girls’ Division 5 South team. Platteville’s Sami Martin was also selected as a Girls D3 All-Star but opted not to play in the game before the cancellation as she reported to D1 Bradley University for summer workouts.

SWAL MVP Nicole Johnson of Mineral Point, Darlington’s Allison Thompson and Cuba City’s Kiera Holzemer were set to play for the Girls’ Division 4 South team.

Potosi senior Nick Edge was named to the Boys’ D5 White team.

Fennimore’s Kellen Kenney and Cuba City’s Brady Olson were selected to the Boys’ D4 Red team, while Cuba City’s Jackson Noll and River Ridge’s Cole Crubel were named to the D4 White team. Prairie du Chien’s Mason Kramer was tabbed to play for the Boys’ D3 Red team.

The All-Star Games have allowed the WBCA to donate over $2.8 Million to the MACC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer) since 1978. At the start of the All-Star Games the Childhood Cancer survival rate was around 10%. Today the survival rate is around 80%. The WBCA takes great pride in believing we are making a difference.

Another Charity the WBCA has elected to donate a portion of the funds is Camp Wawbeek, a part of Easterseals, in Wisconsin Dells. This camp provides services for children and adults with physical disabilities. During camp, the attendees are able to take advantage of camp resources and receive help from counselors to enjoy activities they would not otherwise be able to on their own. For the children attending this camp, it also provides those parents with a worry-free weekend to enjoy knowing their child is in great hands.