Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) will host the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Boy’s and Girl’s State Basketball Championships in GSW’s Storm Dome from February 26-29, 2020. For the second consecutive year, the top GISA high school basketball teams in the A, AA and AAA divisions will compete for a state championship in Americus.
 
Last year’s Final Four tournament brought more than 8,000 people to Americus which means a huge economic impact for local businesses.
 
City of Americus Mayor Barry Blount is excited about the opportunity to host the tournament. “It allows us to showcase our community to many people who might not otherwise visit Americus or Georgia Southwestern,” he says. “Potential students have a chance to experience the GSW campus while their families provide a small economic boost to the local restaurants, hotels, shops and gas stations.”
 
“Georgia Southwestern is proud to partner once again with GISA by hosting the 2020 State Basketball Final Four in Americus and continuing to build on a strong relationship with a great organization,” said GSW President Neal Weaver. “I’m excited to see the University and community come together and activate a strategic plan that uses our combined resources to attract another event that will have a powerful economic and social impact on our region. We have a lot to offer when we all work together.”
 
Clint Morgan, Associate Director of Athletics for GISA, said they have developed a great working relationship with GSW Athletic Director Mike Leeder and the GSW Athletic Staff. “Personally, as a GSW alumnus, it is exciting for me to be able to show GISA student-athletes from across the state what GSW and the Americus community has to offer.”  
 
Other GISA events held at Georgia Southwestern in 2019 included the GISA State Wrestling Championship, State Cheerleading Competition, All-Star Softball and Baseball, All-Star Football, as well as multiple rounds of the GISA Regional Basketball Tournament. Collectively, these events brought over 5,000 people to Sumter County in addition to the 8,000 for the Final Four Basketball Tournament.