HOMER — Banks County became the first school in Georgia to have to forfeit their upcoming playoff game due to coronavirus.
The Leopards were set to face Calloway in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs. But Banks County coach Jay Reid confirmed late Tuesday night that they would not be able to get make the Saturday kickoff.
Callaway will advance to the Sweet 16, hosting the the Lovett/Pepperell winner in the second round.
(UPDATE: Ladmark Christian later became the second when the Class A Private program also opted out of the playoffs).
The Georgia High School Association had said that forfeited games due to COVID-19 during the regular season would not count against teams trying to make the playoffs. However, the GHSA also said that once the payoffs began, scheduling games would be too difficult to maintain a structured playoff schedule and that teams who were forced to forfeit would be out and the benefitting team would advance.
Banks County (1-9) was the No. 4 seed out of Region 8-2A.
