SPORTS BRIEFS: Portion of GHSA basketball finals returns to Macon
Macon Coliseum regains part of the GHSA basketball finals, both GHSA wrestling finals
From Staff Reports
Less than two years after the GHSA moved its basketball finals out of the Macon Coliseum, part of the event will be returning to the nearly 50-year-old arena.
The GHSA, Coliseum officials and Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert announced the return of the basketball finals at a news conference Thursday in Macon. The Coliseum will host boys and girls basketball finals in four of the association’s eight classifications, as well as the GHSA team and traditional wrestling finals.
The Coliseum fell under scrutiny during the 2016 basketball finals when basketball goals were found to be lined up incorrectly. That, along with other issues, caused the GHSA to move the basketball finals, splitting them between Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum and Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion.
Since then, Macon-Bibb County officials replaced the management firm for the Coliseum. According to a release from the GHSA, the agreement reached with Spectra, the Coliseum’s management firm, calls for a new playing floor, new goals and improved lighting in the Coliseum.
The release also states the Coliseum will not charge for parking during the basketball and wrestling finals.
Macon will host the first two days of the basketball finals, scheduled for March 7-8 in 2018. Georgia Tech, which sold out its Friday night session last season, retains its Friday and Saturday slots.
The team wrestling finals will take place Jan. 11-13, and the traditional wrestling finals are scheduled for Feb. 8-10.
Wednesday softball roundup: Rams still perfect
Worth County improved to 15-0 on Wednesday with an 8-2 win at Colquitt County. Caroline Newton struck out 15 while going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Lee County dropped a non-region game, losing 14-8 to Thomas County Central. The Yellow Jackets pulled away in the seventh with an eight-run inning.
Westover picked up its second win of the season, splitting a doubleheader with Americus-Sumter. The Patriots won the second game 12-4 after Americus-Sumter won the opener 9-8.
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