Having been given the green light by Montgomery County and their respective school boards to begin play, five area schools released their boys and girls basketball schedules Tuesday.
Amsterdam, Canajoharie, Fonda-Fultonville, Fort Plain and Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville will play eight games against one another this winter.
“Our district has a long and proud history of high school athletics so we wanted to give this option careful consideration,” Amsterdam Superintendent Richard Ruberti said in a news release. “But as with everything we’ve accomplished through this pandemic, the safety of everyone remains our top priority.”
Montgomery County superintendents had been meeting with county officials to discuss their options following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement Jan. 22 that high-risk winter sports would now be allowed at each county’s discretion.
Cuomo already had pushed back the start date for high-risk sports twice in response to climbing infection rates across the state when he opted to indefinitely suspend the start date on Dec. 11.
“Together with our superintendents, we have created a path forward for high-risk sports that balances safety but also allows student athletes to compete,” Montgomery County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort said in the release.
In addition to Amsterdam High School athletes playing teams within Montgomery County, Ossenfort noted that upon the rolling seven-day average COVID positivity rate falling below 4 percent or less, Montgomery County teams will be able to play games with other county schools that have approved play. Currently, districts are awaiting guidance from Section 2 regarding Wrestling protocols and more information will be forthcoming upon receipt.
Fort Plain Central School staff and leadership developed a plan to offer winter sports, including varsity girls and varsity boys basketball, junior varsity boys basketball and varsity cheerleading, in accordance with all applicable state DOH, county DOH, and league health and safety requirements, which will be implemented during all practices and games, and under the following conditions:
— Each parent/guardian must sign the district’s COVID-19 informed consent for athletic participation form;
— The County Department of Health approves the district’s plan containing the health and safety protocols in place to allow sports to safely occur;
— If, at any time, the high school hybrid learning model moves to remote-only learning, athletics, scrimmages, and practices will be temporarily suspended in their entirety and coaches shall not be required to engage in coaching responsibilities;
— No spectators will be allowed at any athletic contest — as stated by the Western Athletic Conference and Montgomery County; and,
— All practices and contests will occur in accordance with all guidelines issued by New York State, the County and NYSPHSAA/Section/League as such guidelines may be amended at any time.
Fort Plain also announced that district participation in winter sports can be suspended if the superintendent deems such action necessary.
Four of the teams — Canajoharie, Fonda-Fultonville, Fort Plain and Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville — normally compete in the Western Athletic Conference, while Amsterdam is usually part of the Foothills Council.
The schedule begins next Wednesday with the Fort Plain boys traveling to Amsterdam and Fonda-Fultonville slated to travel to Canajoharie.
The girls schedule also begins next Wednesday, with Fort Plain hosting Amsterdam and Fonda-Fultonville hosting Canajoharie. The junior varsity contests are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., with the varsity games following at 6:30 p.m.
No spectators will be allowed at the contests.
The final scheduled games are set for March 11.
The Fall 2 season in Section 2 is scheduled to begin March 7, running until May 1.
The Spring season in Section 2 is slated to begin May 3 and run through June 25.
The exception for the Spring season will be baseball, which is set to begin April 28, due to the 10 required practice rule.
Montgomery County Basketball Schedule
Wednesday, February 10
Boys Basketball
Fort Plain at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fonda-Fultonville at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Amsterdam at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Canajoharie at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, February 12
Boys Basketball
Amsterdam at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Canajoharie at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Plain at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, February 15
Boys Basketball
Fort Plain at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Fonda-Fultonville at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Canajoharie at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18
Boys Basketball
Canajoharie at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fonda-Fultonville at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Amsterdam at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, February 22
Boys Basketball
Amsterdam at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Fonda-Fultonville at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Plain at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 25
Boys Basketball
Amsterdam at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Canajoharie at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Fort Plain at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fonda-Fultonville at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, March 1
Boys Basketball
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Plain at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Amsterdam at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Canajoharie at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 4
Boys Basketball
Fonda-Fultonville at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m.
Canajoharie at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Fort Plain at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, March 8
Boys Basketball
Amsterdam at Canajoharie, 6:30 p.m.
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Canajoharie at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fonda-Fultonville at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 11
Boys Basketball
Fonda-Fultonville at Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Plain at Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Amsterdam at Fonda-Fultonville, 6:30 p.m.
Oppenheim-Ephratah/St. Johnsville at Fort Plain, 6:30 p.m
