The Magnolia Panthers have technically won their second consecutive Class 4A state basketball championship.
Upon the issuance of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Monday announcement that all schools will no longer meet in person for the remainder of the academic year, the Arkansas Activities Association quickly declared that all Boys and Girls finalists for classes 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A will be named state champions. Magnolia was slated to play Little Rock Mills -- also now technically the 2019-2020 state champs -- on March 13 in Hot Springs for the Class 4A state championship. The Panthers were undefeated and ranked as the No. 1 team in Arkansas.
“It is with great disappointment that we announce the decision to cancel the remaining state basketball championship games,” said Lance Taylor, AAA Executive Director in a Monday afternoon statement. “We certainly sympathize with these students, coaches, and fans, who are being impacted, but the health and safety of the student we serve is our top priory”
Class 1A and 2A titles were played on March 12, but all tournament play was suspended after the conclusion of that night’s games. Schools on March 17 were dismissed from in-person classes due to fears of the spread of the Wuhan, China-based 2019 strain of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The state championship tournament never resumed.