Positive COVID-19 tests in the Long Beach Poly boys’ basketball program have shut the team down until Jan. 14, head coach Shelton Diggs said Monday morning. The Jackrabbits were crowned Gold Division co-champions at the Damien Classic last week but were unable to play in their final scheduled game due to the positive tests.
Poly will miss five Moore League games, including a scheduled Jan. 14 game that Diggs said they likely won’t be able to play because they aren’t able to practice or do anything over the next week and a half.
“Our athletic director and the league are working on rescheduling those games, but it’s five games we’ll have to squeeze in,” said Diggs. “It is what it is. It’s frustrating because we have some good momentum but the NBA is going through it, college is going through it, I knew it was inevitable to some extent. Would rather not go through it at all but if it has to happen better now than the playoffs. It just feels like something everyone is going to have to deal with this month.”
The Jackrabbits are off to a good start but have been without senior leader Chris Watson, who has been sitting with an ankle injury. Watson could be available to play by the time Poly is back on the court. In the meantime, Diggs said he has to come up with a new Zoom plan on the fly.
“We’re just figuring out right now what we’re doing to do because we can’t get on the court at all,” he said.
Poly is seeking a Moore League-record 13th consecutive league championship this year, which would be their 64th league title ever, most in state history.
