OBSERVER file photo

FREWSBURG — Members of Frewsburg Central School’s boys and girls varsity and junior varsity basketball teams are in quarantine, Superintendent Shelly O’Boyle confirmed.

On its website, Frewsburg announced Friday that an employee and student — both listed at the middle-high school and considered “on-site” — had recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Placing the players from the basketball teams in quarantine was the result of being considered close contacts by the county. In all, O’Boyle said 37 students who play basketball between the four programs are in quarantine and away from school.

The superintendent stressed the need to keep staff and students safe, but also noted the hard work taken by the district to ensure sports were a possibility during the ongoing pandemic.

“Our kids were so excited to be able to play basketball, and we were excited as a district to be able to provide that for our kids,” she said.

The boys varsity basketball team was slated to play at home against Panama on Friday evening, though the quarantine mandate means the game must be canceled. The boys team played at Brocton on Wednesday, and tracing from the county Health Department found that the Brocton team would not be impacted.

The girls varsity team was next scheduled to play at Clymer on Tuesday.

“We’re hopeful they can return to play following this,” said O’Boyle, pointing out that as for schoolwork for those in quarantine, the district is on winter break next week.

The superintendent also thanked the county for assisting the district. “They really helped us in this situation and helped guide us and give us information on being able to move forward.”