OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ews elease 4080N Roselea Place, Columbus, OH 43214R • Commissioner Daniel B. Ross, Ph.D. (614) 267-2502 • FAX (614) 267-1677 • www.ohsaa.org For Immediate Release February 7, 2005 Contact Bob Goldring, Director of Information OHSAA TO MOVE GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO OHIO STATE’S ST. JOHN ARENA COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s 30th annual Girls State Basketball Tournament March 10, 11 and 12 has been moved to The Ohio State University’s St. John Arena, Commissioner Dan Ross has announced. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held at the University’s Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. But due to a conflict with the Buckeyes men’s ice hockey team hosting Central Collegiate Hockey Association first-round playoff games that weekend at Value City Arena, the OHSAA has agreed to move the tournament. “Ohio State officials asked if we would be willing to switch venues, and we felt that, in being a good partner with the University, we could be accommodating to meet their needs,” Ross said. “I have dis- cussed the change with members of our Board of Control and officers with the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association, and everyone was supportive of the move. “While we enjoy utilizing one of the top facilities in the nation in the Schottenstein Center to show- case the best girls basketball teams in the state, St. John Arena is also an outstanding facility, and the participating teams and fans can be assured that the tournament will continue to operate in the first- class manner in which they have become accustomed.” This year’s girls state basketball tournament schedule is as follows: Thursday, March 10—Division II semifinals at 1:00 and 3:00 and Division IV semifinals at 6:00 and 8:00; Friday, March 11—Division III semifinals at 1:00 and 3:00 and Division I semifinals at 6:00 and 8:00, and Saturday, March 12— Division II final at 10:45; Division IV final at 2:00; Division III final at 5:15, and Division I final at 8:30. Before moving into 19,230-seat Value City Arena in 2000, 23 of the 24 OHSAA girls state basketball tournaments were held at St. John Arena, which has a seating capacity of 13,276. Single-session atten- dance the past five years of the tournament at Value City Arena has averaged 6,365. In April, the OHSAA Board of Control picked up a three-year option for Value City Arena to host the OHSAA state wrestling, girls basketball and boys basketball tournaments in 2005, 2006 and 2007. This year’s OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament (Feb. 24-26) and State Boys Basketball Tournament (March 17-19) will be held as scheduled at Value City Arena. — OHSAA —.