Kelsey Johnson’s first full week of practice as head basketball coach at Iola High School has been an exhaustive one.
It started at the stroke of midnight Monday morning, and continued with two-a-day sessions.
Johnson, who ascended to the head coaching job after working the past three years as an assistant, has had to work without a full roster as some of her players have battled illness, injury or COVID-19-mandated quarantines.
“I still haven’t had all of the girls here,” she said Thursday.
She’s hardly alone.
Becky Carlson, long-time Fillies coach, moved to Marmaton Valley to coach at her alma mater this season.
She’s been unable to schedule any practices, after the district announced Monday that all junior and senior high students will be kept home for remote learning until after Thanksgiving because of the coronavirus threat. That means she’ll get as few as seven practices in before the Wildcats open the season Dec. 8.
Carlson is itching to get going. “I have no walls left to climb,” she joked.
Then came word Wednesday that the state’s governing body may decide next week to push the start of winter sports — basketball included — to mid-January.
So, depending on Tuesday’s decision, coaches may be starting the season in less than two weeks — or in about two months.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen,” Johnson said. “I’ve been trying to keep up with it.”
If she had her druthers, Johnson would prefer to see the season start on time the first week of December, “even if we have to play without spectators. I just want to get in as many games as possible.”
Carlson is a bit more pessimistic, predicting the Kansas State High School Activities Association board of directors will vote to delay the season.
“I understand their thinking, from a safety perspective,” Carlson said, “but I’m gonna be disappointed if we don’t get to start sooner” than Jan. 15.
THERE are several factors at play for KSHSAA to consider, including the surge in COVID-19 cases that have filled hospitals across the state to maximum capacity. In just the last two days, cases have spiked to almost 3,000 a day. As of Friday morning, the state has had more than 134,533 confirmed cases.
