In the return of an annual favorite, Tharptown High School will host the Franklin County Tournament Jan. 9–16.

The 17-game tournament will feature the ninth–grade girls and boys, B-varsity boys, varsity girls and varsity boys.

The tournament will look different this year because of COVID-19 protocols and strict attendance limits. Capacity in the gymnasium will be limited to 20 percent – which amounts to just over 200 people in the stands, including cheerleaders.

Officials are reminding fans they must have a voucher from a participating school to be allowed to enter. AHSAA coaches’ passes and Franklin County teacher badges will be recognized, but they must have a voucher from a participating school to enter.

Fans will be asked to vacate the gym after each game, if their team is not participating, to keep capacity limits manageable.

Masks and social distancing in the gym and gym lobby will be required, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, and game officials will have the authority to stop a game if fans are not in compliance.

“We have already had to cancel the junior high county tournament,” said Tharptown Principal Bart Moss. “The main thing we want fans to understand is that we are trying our best to have this tournament under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. We are committed to giving our student-athletes the chance to compete. We just ask fans to respect each other’s right to be in a safe environment and comply with some very simple guidelines.”

Here is the full schedule:

JAN. 9

• 12 p.m. Ninth-grade girls, Game 1: No. 5 Red Bay versus No. 6 Vina
• 2 p.m. Ninth-grade girls, Game 2: No. 3 Phil Campbell versus No. 4 Tharptown
• 4 p.m. Varsity girls, Game 1: No. 4 Belgreen versus No. 5 Tharptown
• 6 p.m. Varsity boys, Game 1: No. 4 Tharptown versus No. 5 Vina

JAN. 12

• 2 p.m. Ninth-grade girls Game 3: No. 2 Belgreen versus No. 3 Phil Campbell OR No. 4 Tharptown
• 4 p.m. Ninth-grade girls Game 4: No. 1 East Franklin versus No. 5 Red Bay OR No. 6 Vina
• 6 p.m. Varsity girls, Game 2: No. 1 Red Bay versus No. 4 Belgreen OR No. 5 Tharptown
• 8 p.m. Varsity boys, Game 2: No. 1 Belgreen versus No. 4 Tharptown OR No. 5 Vina

JAN. 14

• 2 p.m. B-varsity boys, Game 1: No. 1 Belgreen versus No. 4 Tharptown
• 4 p.m. B-varsity boys, Game 2: No. 2 Phil Campbell versus No. 3 Red Bay
• 6 p.m. Varsity girls, Game 3: No. 2 Phil Campbell versus No. 3 Vina
• 8 p.m. Varsity boys, Game 3: No. 2 Red Bay versus No. 3 Phil Campbell

JAN. 15

• 4 p.m. Ninth-grade Finals
• 6 p.m. 9B Finals: No. 1 East Franklin vs. No. 2 Vina
• 8 p.m. B-varsity boys, Finals

JAN. 16

• 5 p.m. Varsity girls, Finals
• 7 p.m. Varsity boys, Finals