South Jersey Sports Report: How to Save the CAL Basketball Tournament

Almost everybody is hoping for a high school basketball season this winter. Some coaches will tell you privately that they think the chances are less than 50-50, but they all try to stay optimistic.

The NJSIAA and Governor Murphy have set guidelines for winter sports. Practice can start on Dec. 3, the first game can be played on Dec. 21 and the regular season will end on Feb. 3. Basketball teams will be limited to 15 games. The NJSIAA criteria says “all competition will be limited to two teams only”. But what they meant to say was “two schools only” because junior varsity games are OK, freshman games are OK and even girl-boy doubleheaders are OK – as long as only two schools are involved.

That means showcases and tournaments will likely by eliminated (though the NJSIAA and the governor both say those restrictions could change). However, the Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend, Boardwalk Basketball Classic, Seagull Classic, War vs. Shore, Girls Shootout and Battle By The Bay have all been cancelled.

The Cape-Atlantic League has set up for the basketball season by creating three divisions. Since no championships are being decided in the CAL fall sports, we can probably assume there will be none in basketball.

These are the three tentative divisions: