Not just Division I: Other NCAA sports, NAIA and junior college games on hold

The NCAA Tournament is canceled, but the national junior college basketball championships may be played next month.

That’s one of the ways college sports organizations below the NCAA Division I level are handling the response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference is suspending all sporting events until at least April 1. But several of the conference’s basketball teams may be able to compete in NJCAA national championship tournaments next month.

The men’s teams are Coffeyville, Colby, Cowley, who were set to compete in the Division I tourney in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Kansas City Kansas Community College, which qualified for the Division II nationals in Danville, Illinois.

The women’s teams are Butler, Hutchinson and Seward County, who qualified for the Division I finals in Lubbock, Texas, and Labette, which qualified in Division II, which will be played in Port Huron, Michigan.

“In light of recent developments regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the NJCAA has made the decision to postpone championships for the upcoming DI and DII men’s and women’s basketball tournaments,” the NJCAA announced Thursday. “Originally scheduled to begin the week of March 16, the four upcoming national championships will aim for a tentative start of Monday, April 20.”

The NCAA canceled all winter and spring sports championships across all divisions.

In Division II, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is suspending sports activities indefinitely. The Great Lakes Valley Conference suspended activities and will review the status on April 6.

“The health of MIAA student-athletes, coaches, administrators and their communities is paramount during this growing health crisis,” the league announced. “The MIAA and its member institutions will continue to closely monitor all information and developments connected to the COVID-19 disease.”

The NAIA canceled all winter sports championships Thursday.

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference on Friday indefinitely suspended all athletic-related practice, travel, and competitions. The Heart of America Athletic Conference also temporarily suspended all conference competitions on Friday.

The NAIA has yet to decide if spring sports championships will be contested.

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 12:06 PM.