Trojans surrender playoff spot after losing appeal

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The Central Lafourche boys’ basketball team will not compete in the Class 5A State Playoffs after losing an appeal at a Louisiana High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship hearing on Tuesday afternoon in Baton Rouge.

The meeting was centered around a fight at halftime during Friday night’s game between the Trojans and East St. John, which caused officials to call the game.

The LHSAA stepped in and ruled over the weekend that the game would be a double-forfeit and that each team would be forced to enforce a one-game suspension onto every, single player listed in the lineup book from Friday’s game. 


After hours of testimony from officials, security, coaches and school administration, the LHSAA’s sportsmanship committee decided to uphold its prior ruling of a double-forfeit and mass suspensions from over the weekend, while also fining each school $500 for their roles in the incident.

Because the Trojans appealed and lost, they also were staked with the costs associated with the hearing. 

The Trojans qualified for the playoffs as the No. 13 and the ruling will not disqualify the Trojans from competing in the bracket if they chose to do so.


But because of the one-game suspension, the school intends to pull out of participating, citing a lack of available players for competition.

If that doesn’t change before Thursday night, the Trojans season will end 20-8 record. 

Central Lafourche Principal Jarod Martin said the ruling is unfortunate. Trojans Coach Mark Sanders said justice wasn’t served and the innocent are being punished for the guilt of few.


The Trojans were bracketed to play No. 20 Terrebonne in the opening round of the playoffs.

With the forfeiture, the Tigers will now move to the 2nd round of the Class 5A State Playoffs. 

DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT EMERGE


Throughout Tuesday’s hearing, stories varied from those who gave testimony. 

Those aligned with the Trojans alleged that East St. John started the fracas, while Wildcats representatives said Central Lafourche started the incident, which occurred with the Trojans owning a 20-point halftime advantage.

But there is some middle ground.


Everyone questioned said the incident started as the teams walked to the locker room after the end of the first half.

At East St. John’s new gym, the locker rooms are across the hall, but teams must walk through the same entrance to get there.

As the teams got mixed up, both parties concede that a Trojans basketball player was pointing at the scoreboard, which caused words to be exchanged.


Some in the Trojans camp testified at the hearing that the player, was smiling and looking at his mother while pointing. But others with East St. John said the gesture was seen as unsportsmanlike and mockery.

Both sides concede that words were exchanged after the incident, and that a fight ensued between the Trojans player and a player from East St. John.

An officer on detail at the game testified that the Trojans player threw the first punch and instigated the incident.


Chris Kimball, an administrator with the Lafourche Parish School Board, testified that it was the Wildcats player who threw the first blow. 

Kimball took it further and said that the incident was a premeditated attack by the Wildcats player and teammates.

Officials testified, stating they had a hard time identifying who was or wasn’t at fault. 


As initial punches were thrown, players on both sides got involved in an incident that officials and detail officers estimate lasted about a minute or 90 seconds before being broken up.

After the teams finally were separated, officials decided to call the game after consulting with police officers and both coaches.

No video surveillance is available from the gym, and because of the differing opinions of those questioned, the LHSAA said it didn’t have sufficient evidence to change its initial ruling.


The game was briefly ruled a Trojans victory, but the LHSAA quickly stamped it a double-forfeit, then issued mass suspensions, which started the appeals process.

In the verdict, the LHSAA ruled that East St. John must explore a new locker room system to avoid having two teams in the same hall in the future.

East St. John did not appeal the ruling and has accepted its suspensions. 


PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

The LHSAA was supposed to release playoff brackets on Monday morning, but couldn’t because the outcome of Tuesday’s appeal could have had an impact on seeding.

The Trojans earned the No. 13 seed, but if the ruling was reversed and they were given a victory in Friday’s game, their seed would have been altered, which would have affected the entire 32-team bracket, as well as others around Louisiana. 


As soon as the verdict was issued, the LHSAA released its brackets, and the situation between the teams will have a trickle-down impact on several local teams.

East St. John earned the No. 28 seed, and they will play No. 5 H.L. Bourgeois on Thursday night.

The Wildcats said they will not forfeit the game, but will play with JV and freshman players. 


The Trojans were No. 13 and had the opportunity to play No. 20 Terrebonne at home.

Instead, the Tigers will get a bye, which will give them a home game in Round 2 on Mardi Gras Day – likely against No. 4 Chalmette.

As news broke of the LHSAA’s ruling, Trojans players took to social media and expressed sadness about not getting a chance to compete in the playoffs.


Sanders said the entire ordeal wasn’t handled properly, and that his team was just defending itself from the aggressors. 

“We don’t feel this is right,” he said.

LHSAA


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