The Lincoln County Basketball Tournament scheduled to take place the week after Thanksgiving will have a different format this season due to COVID-19.

The tournament usually rotates between the four campuses of Bogue Chitto, Enterprise, Loyd Star and West Lincoln from year to year and is played on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of the same week.

Loyd Star was scheduled to host the 2020 edition but that’s been changed after a meeting between coaches and administrators from the schools last week.

The event has been shortened by one day with games taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 4.

Additionally, the tournament won’t be held at just one location now as to reduce crowd sizes. Big crowds are part of the county tournament experience, but that’s something schools are trying to avoid during the continuing pandemic.

“It would be nearly impossible to accommodate all four county schools in one location while socially distancing and limiting crowd sizes,” said Loyd Star head coach Seth Britt. “We’ve got players coming off of quarantine on our team as well and it wasn’t feasible for us to play three games in their first week back.”

On Dec. 1 West Lincoln will travel to Bogue Chitto and Loyd Star will play at Enterprise. Varsity girls’ games begin at 6 p.m. followed by the boys’ games.

Dec. 4 will see Enterprise playing at West Lincoln and Loyd Star hosting Bogue Chitto.

All four schools are members of Region 7-2A and are scheduled to play home-and-home series with each other after the Christmas break.

The county junior high tournament is also going to be similarly changed as it was scheduled to take place at West Lincoln.

The plan now for junior high action is that on Dec. 7 West Lincoln will host Loyd Star and Bogue Chitto will host Enterprise.

Then on Dec. 10 Enterprise will travel to West Lincoln and Loyd Star will be on the road at Bogue Chitto.

Junior high games begin at 5 p.m. with the girls’ game.

In varsity action West Lincoln has played two games this season with the girls going 2-0 and the boys record at 0-2.

Loyd Star has also been able to get two games under their belt as the Lady Hornets are 1-1 and the boys’ team is 0-2.

Enterprise has played three games thus far in 2020 as they were able to get in a home-and-home with Pisgah and a road trip to Mize. The boys’ team is 1-2 and the Lady Jackets are 2-1 for coach Shane Adams.

At Bogue Chitto the boys’ team has yet to play in 2020 but the Lady Bobcats are 4-0 for coach Robby Walters.

BC is hoping to host games with both varsity teams competing on Nov. 28 at home against Franklin County.