Attendance problems for state basketball

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Attendance for the two days of the state basketball championships in Sacramento was 11,514. That’s better than the paltry 8,786 that showed up last year in Bakersfield, but it’s not close to what officials expected.

Could it have been the lack of public schools competing that affected attendance? The high price of gas? The poor weather? All of the above?

Even though Mater Dei is known for its loyal fan base and was competing in the boys’ and girls’ Division I finals, the Monarchs had very few students show up, probably because spring break had just begun.

The two-game session Saturday night drew only 3,828, and let me say that Concord De La Salle’s style of taking its time on every possession isn’t the way to attract fans.

On the plus side, the event was well run and the officiating was pretty good, though you wouldn’t know it listening to some of the fans of the losing teams.

-- Eric Sondheimer