The Cayce Roundball Classic will not take place this year.

The 2nd annual tournament which was expected to feature 3 of the state’s top ranked teams, including 3-time defending Class 2A champion Gray Collegiate, was officially cancelled Tuesday.

This comes 2 days after the tournament’s initial 16-team field was reduced to 8 teams as several school districts have suspended their sporting activities. The 3-day Classic was moved up a week after the SC High School League mandated no post-Christmas basketball tournaments. 

In a statement released by Lexington School District 2, tournament director and Brookland-Cayce boys’ basketball coach Robert Wells cited “the abundance of caution amid COVID-19” as the main factor. 

"Some things are bigger than basketball,” Wells said in the statement. "This is a global situation and we need to make sure we follow the guidance and direction of the experts and health officials. While we are disappointed with not being able to host the Cayce Roundball Classic, we would like everyone to stay safe and take precautions to protect yourselves and loved ones. “We look forward to the return of this event in December 2021.”

Since the start of winter sports, the SCHSL has cited 43 percent of nearly 400 basketball games have been either rescheduled or cancelled this year.