The Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) has been barred from this year’s New Jersey State tournament as a result of a melee at the end of a tournament game in California on December 29. There is no appeals process for NJSIAA disqualifications.
As a result of a fracas at the end of a tournament semifinal game on December 29 against Grassroots Hoops FAB 50 No. 40 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), the Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.), ranked No. 16, will not be allowed to participate in the NJSIAA’s postseason tournament.
According to a report by Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com, the NJSIAA officially disqualified Patrick School after a Friday meeting with school officials to discuss the incident at the Under Armour Holiday Classic in Del Mar, Calif.
A fracas with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game led to five of the Patrick School’s players being ejected from the game. (SEE VIDEO).
NJSIAA assistant director Larry White made the following statement:
“Following the ejection of five members of the Patrick School boys basketball team during a game on December 29 — at the Under Armour Holiday Classic Tournament, contested at San Diego’s Torrey Pines High School — the ejected players, by NJSIAA rule, were given additional two-game suspensions by school administrators. In addition, NJSIAA rules specifically stipulate that any varsity team accumulating three or more player or coach disqualifications for ‘flagrantly unsportsmanlike conduct’ — which includes leaving the bench related to a dispute or altercation — will not be permitted to participate in that season’s NJSIAA tournament.”
According to Schneider’s report, there is no NJSIAA appeals process for state tournament disqualifications.
Patrick School, also known as St. Patrick, was disqualified from the post-season in 2010 when then coach Kevin Boyle was ruled present for workouts before the official start to the season. Boyle now coaches at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).
Patrick School’s ban from the post-season doesn’t change its status for rankings consideration in the Grassroots Hoops FAB 50. The Celtics, currently 8-1, will be judged on how they perform on the court.
Patrick School will play FAB 50 No. 4 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) on January 10 at Kean University’s Harwood Arena.
On-court results have little to do with what events or tournaments a program can play in. The state tournament, however, offers the chance to play other highly-ranked teams and that’s where Patrick School’s ranking could be affected.
The same applies for the Redondo Union team it was involved in the fracas with. The Sea Hawks just lost highly-regarded sophomore Billy Preston to transfer. The 6-foot-9 Preston withdrew from school on Monday and reportedly will enroll at Prime Prep (Dallas, Texas).
Redondo Union has been and will continue to be judged by how it performs on the court, not by its personnel. If Redondo Union continues to win, it will remain ranked or if the Sea Hawks lose games, they will be ranked accordingly.
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