COVID forfeit gives FPD boys a first-round GHSA state basketball win

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Gavin Chapman is sitting home, stressing about not being near his basketball team as it prepares for the first round of the GHSA boys basketball playoffs.

          The stress level – for the game, anyway – for the FPD boys head coach sidelined with COVID-19 decreased a little bit Monday morning with word that the Vikings will move on because of a COVID-related forfeit by Heritage-Newnan.

          The GHSA’s brackets on its website had “COVID-19 Forfeit) in between the two teams in the Class A Private bracket, and put FPD into the next round, against either Whitfield Academy or Savannah Christian on Saturday.

          Heritage had just come off a two-week COVID break earlier this month, according to the Newnan Times-Herald. This was the program’s first trip to the GHSA tournament.

          As of Monday evening, the Vikings are the only team to advance by COVID forfeit, though it’s highly unlikely to be the only one by tipoffs Tuesday, when the girls side gets going. Boys mostly start on Wednesday, though there are assorted doubleheaders.