[USA Today] It was the hottest ticket in the state of Indiana for high school basketball. Four great teams. An electric atmosphere was guaranteed for the night of March 6 at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, where 2,800 fans would pack the gym for the sectional semifinals.But early on that Friday afternoon, the calls started coming in to Lawrence Central.
It was revealed by state officials at 11 a.m. that the first person in Indiana had tested positive for coronavirus at Community Health North, four miles from the school.
"We started getting calls," Lawrence Central athletic director Ryan Banas said, "wondering if we were still going to play."
The games were played that night — and the following night — just like they were in 63 other venues around the state. Fans at Lawrence Central that week for Sectional 10 were treated to a basketball bonanza of incredible games and individual performances.
But on that night of March 6, there were five people in the gym who later died after testing positive for coronavirus. There’s no way to know if they contracted it at Lawrence Central. But families are left to mourn.