Now both Jefferson District No. 1 seeds in basketball have been knocked out on a technicality. The Fluvanna boys team, citing a similar violation of the VHSL rule that Western Albemarle self-reported on Saturday to force a forfeit, is now forfeiting its JD quarterfinal win over the Western boys. That means both eight seeds are now slated to play in the Jefferson semifinals Tuesday and Wednesday night barring an appeal.
In fact, the language of the press release reads nearly word-for-word with what Western’s Steve Heon sent out Saturday night.
“When Fluvanna was made aware of the rule in question we immediately started proceedings to notify the VHSL and other schools to let them know what had happened and how we were going to proceed,” said Fluvanna athletic director Scott Morris. “ The violation involved is a basketball specific rule of which we were unaware. Fluvanna County High School will be appealing the rule to the Virginia High School League and await their reply.”
That means Western Albemarle’s boys will take on Monticello in Tuesday night’s semifinals, unless something changes drastically.
Here’s the full press release from Fluvanna athletic director Scott Morris:
Due to the self-reporting an administrative error to the Virginia High School League the Fluvanna County Varsity Boys Basketball team will forfeit their Jefferson District Quarterfinal game to Western Albemarle High School. The Flucos remain Jefferson District regular season champions and will host a Region II Quarterfinal game on February 22.
Virginia High School League rule 58-2-2 Varsity/Junior Varsity Tournament Participation Limitations states “When a district sponsors both a postseason junior varsity and a postseason varsity tournament, a player shall be limited to participating in only one of these tournaments.” Fluvanna Junior Varsity players played in both this past Thursday’s Jefferson District Junior Varsity Championship game as well as in the last minute of the Fluvanna county Varsity team’s 73-47 win versus Western in the Jefferson District tournament.
Statement from Scott Morris Athletic Director:
When Fluvanna was made aware of the rule in question we immediately started proceedings to notify the VHSL and other schools to let them know what had happened and how we were going to proceed. The violation involved is a basketball specific rule of which we were unaware. Fluvanna County High School will be appealing the rule to the Virginia High School League and await their reply. The team and the school are understandably disappointed they will not be able to compete in the remainder of the Jefferson District Tournament if that is the findings of the VHSL. If so, they will now turn attention to preparing for the Region II Tournament.
