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GHSA likely to continue using Macon Centreplex after successful weekend

The GHSA left Macon after there were serious issues with the Centreplex. This year, they returned.

Following a one-year hiatus for renovations and to resolve issues that had negatively impacted games in the past, the Macon Centreplex successfully hosted nine GHSA state basketball championship games this weekend.

The Centreplex had held championship games since it opened in 1968. However in 2016, there were several issues. They included the basketball stanchions not being properly fastened. The GHSA looked to host its games elsewhere and found a temporary home in the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.

The Centreplex installed new lights, implemented free parking and made improvements to the court and hoops. It was enough for the GHSA to announce in September it would move about half of its state basketball championship games back to Macon. The other half were held at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion.

The first two days of the championship games were held at the Centreplex. Once the tournament shifted to Tech, 11Alive had a brief moment to catch-up with GHSA Director Dr. Robin Hines and discuss how he thought Macon did.

"The folks down in Macon did a great job," Hines said. "They had a new floor, new stanchions, new lights, there's a new management down there running it and they were just superb. We were really proud of what we were able to do down in Macon and look forward to being back there."

There were no major complaints that came out the games in Macon. The staff carefully checked the hoops, and the new court and lights were proudly on display. Oh, and the parking was in fact free.

By the sounds of it, the Centreplex got one of its regular customers back.

The GHSA will do an evaluation on all of the venues that held tournament games, including the various semifinal locations. Then it will determine which venues they'll want to return to in the future.

As of now, no official plans have been made for the upcoming state championships.

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