by Steven Felschundneff | steven@claremont-courier.com

Pomona-Pitzer men’s basketball has made it into the final 16 of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, according to a news release from Sagehen Athletics.

Pomona-Pitzer defeated No. 10 ranked Emory Eagles, 71-70, after a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Jack Boyle on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Sagehens and Eagles fought back and forth for the entire game and Pomona-Pitzer trailed 34-29 at the half. Pomona-Pitzer tied the game twice late in the second half but Eagles were relentless. Boyle’s three came off an inbounds play with 2.2 seconds on the clock with the Sagehens trailing 70-68.

Spring high school sports continue

Thom Simmons, assistant commissioner of the California Interscholastic Federation Sothern Section said in an email on Wednesday that the CIF has no plans to cancel or reschedule sporting events because of the coronavirus, but will leave those decisions to individual schools, or school districts.

“The CIF and the CIF-SS is too large both by number of schools, but also by geography to have a one size fits all response to this virus. We believe letting these decisions be made by local schools and school districts, in concert with their local health officials and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, is the best plan of action as they know far better than we of the best course in keeping their students and families safe. We will support them in those decisions,” the email read.

The CIF Southern Section left open the possibility that it would have to take direct action if the public health threat from the virus continues into the spring playoffs.

“If this situation continues into spring championships, those events this office directly controls, we will address those concerns at that time.”

The regularly scheduled season for spring sports ends between mid to late April.

On Monday CIF State issued an advisory on the coronavirus stating that sports competition would continue because the risk to the public remains low. However the statewide CIF did leave open the possibility that circumstances could change.

“The CIF is monitoring developments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (DPH) and our medical expert Dr. Jeffrey Tanji, Sports Medicine Physician at UC Davis Health. The CDC and DPH state that while there is a public health threat, the individual risk for members of the American public is low at this time. The CIF will proceed with its athletic contests as usual. As appropriate, modifications may be made to the dates, times and locates of our athletic events,” the statement read.

The statement also recommends that players take preventive actions including washing hands and avoiding shaking hands. It further suggests that nonessential persons be barred from locker rooms.

As of Wednesday afternoon all CHS sporting events will continue as scheduled.

CHS swim begins Palomares League next week

With the CHS pool still under construction girls and boys swim will be using Pomona College’s Pendleton Pool for practice and meets this season.

The Pack participated in the Palomares League Relays at Glendora High School last Saturday which gave coaches and swimmers a chance to gauge the competition.

The next meet is the Mt. Sac Invitational Tournament on March 13 and 14, followed by the league opening meet with Ayala at Pendleton Pool, Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.