Denver Jewish Day School’s win over Community Christian on Thursday night assured the school a spot in the Class 1A District 8 finals today.
Only one problem: The game was scheduled during the day, smack-dab in the middle of the Jewish Sabbath, which begins before sundown on Friday and ends after sundown Saturday.
So the school worked with CHSAA and had the game moved to 8 p.m. tonight at Arvada Middle School.
“They were very understanding,” Tigers coach Michael Foonberg said.
It’s the first time in state history that a basketball game has been moved because of religious beliefs. Other district games around the state on Saturday tip off in the mid-to-late afternoon. Sundown will be around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday.
This had never been an issue before, because Denver Jewish Day School schedules around the Sabbath during the regular season, and it’s the first time in school history the Tigers have advanced this far in the postseason.
CHSAA previously accommodated the school’s baseball team during its playoff run two years ago.
Regardless of the outcome in the district final, Denver Jewish Day School will advance to the 1A regionals. That game will be played at 4 p.m. Thursday at Eagle Valley High School.
Ryan Casey: 303-954-1983 or rcasey@denverpost.com
