Section 1 approves return to County Center for boys and girls basketball championships

Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·2 min read

The goal of each team qualifying for the upcoming Section 1 boys and girls basketball tournaments is now officially winning a gold ball at the Westchester County Center.

Approval to return to the longtime high school basketball Mecca came on Monday from the organization's executive committee. Due to the pandemic, the White Plains arena was reconfigured to serve as an overflow hospital following the 2020 Section 1 tournament and has since been out of service.

Section 1 executive director Todd Santabarbara was part of a site tour conducted last Thursday.

“It was truly amazing to see the transformation that the Westchester County Center has undergone," he said in a statement. "While renovations are ongoing, we are optimistic for its return."

Restoration work will continue at the Westchester County Center, but the local high school basketball Mecca is expected to be ready to host the Section 1 semifinals and finals starting Feb. 27.
Restoration work will continue at the Westchester County Center, but the local high school basketball Mecca is expected to be ready to host the Section 1 semifinals and finals starting Feb. 27.

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The venue served as a testing and vaccination site, but has not hosted an event since Greeley claimed the boys Class AA title and Ursuline captured the girls Class AA championship on March 8, 2020. Westchester County executive George Latimer said last week he expects the ongoing work to be completed in time, but contingency plans are in place should an unforeseen issue force a move.

Clarkstown South would step in to host sectionals if needed and Yorktown has agreed to host regional games.

The executive committee amended the schedule, as well, and sectionals will now begin Feb. 27. Here is the schedule for championship week:

Section 1 basketball championship week

Monday, Feb. 27th: Class B semifinals (boys and girls)

Tuesday, Feb. 28: Class C semifinals (boys and girls)

Wednesday, March 1: Class A semifinals (boys and girls)

Thursday, March 2: Class AA semifinals (boys and girls)

Friday, March 3: Class D final (boys), Class B finals (boys and girls)

Saturday, March 4: Class C and Class A finals (boys and girls)

Sunday, March 5th: Class AA finals (boys and girls)

Mike Dougherty covers basketball for The Journal News and lohud.com. He can be reached a mdougher@lohud.com or via Twitter @lohudhoopsmbd.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Section 1 approves return to Westchester County Center for basketball