01-30-2007, 02:05 PM
HUNTINGTON -- Cabell Circuit Judge Dan OâHanlon granted a petition allowing five reserve players to play in tonightâs game against nationally ranked Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.)
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed this morning in Cabell Circuit Court to request a temporary injunction to stop the suspension of Huntington High basketball player O.J. Mayo.
The five reserve players were ejected from Friday nightâs game against Capital for leaving the bench amid a flurry of technical fouls. They were suspended two games.
Attorney Paul Farrell Jr., who represented the reserve players, argued that the players have no rights within West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission rules to file an appeal.
The order means reserves Brandon Hutchison, C.J. Crawford, Michael Morton, Colin Oakley and Lambros Svingos are eligible to play in tonight's showdown against nationally ranked Artesia. The five reserve players are already in Durham
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Mayo's lawyer said they filed a request for an injunction to allow Mayo to play tonight as well.
âWe are asking the circuit judge to maintain the status quo, that is that O.J.âs available to play,â Mike Woelfel, Mayo's attorney and an assistant coach for the Highlanders, said. âWe are also asking the judge to examine the rules and regulations of the SSAC to determine that their denial of an administrative hearing prior to punishment being imposed is unfair.â
Mayo's hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. Mayo is meeting with West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission Executive Director Mike Hayden at 10:30 a.m. this morning.
O'Hanlon has scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. in the case of five Huntington High reserve basketball players who were ejected from Friday night's game against Capital for leaving the bench amid a flurry of technical fouls.
Mayo also was ejected from the Capital game after receiving two technical fouls from referee Mike Lazo for taunting. After the second technical foul, Mayo followed Lazo to the scorer's table to object. When the referee stopped, Mayo bumped into him from behind, and Lazo fell to the ground.
According to WVSSAC rules, the ejections carry a two-game suspension.
A complaint filed Monday in Cabell Circuit Court by the parents of the reserve players requests a temporary restraining order, which would allow them to play tonight. The complaint asks that the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission be barred from imposing the suspensions against the players until a decision is made regarding their procedural right to appeal the suspensions.
However, there are strings attached if they play. WVSSAC rules say if a student plays under the terms of a court restraining order that is subsequently reversed, the WVSSAC could force the team to forfeit victories in which the student played.
All of the reserve players who are seeking a temporary restraining order traveled to Durham, N.C., with the rest of the team.
"Given the circumstances, these kids deserve an opportunity to be heard before they are denied the chance of a lifetime because of an arbitrary enforcement of a rule they did not intend to violate," said Paul Farrell Jr., one of three attorneys representing the players.
The complaint alleges that while Mayo was escorted off the court Friday by police officers, Huntington High's reserve players remained near the bench. They did not participate in any of the incidents that led to Mayo's ejection, according to the complaint.
"They didn't violate the text or the spirit of the rule that speaks to leaving the bench area," Farrell said.
According to WVSSAC rules, the protest of a contest or ejection is not allowed.
"Accordingly, the (WVSSAC) Board of Directors is not authorized to order contests to be replayed or ejections to be considered," the rule says.
However, the complaint argues that the rule is silent as to whether subsequent disciplinary action is subject to an appeal.
As for Mayo, the WVSSAC is still reviewing his bumping incident with Lazo to determine whether additional time should be tacked on to the senior guard's two-game suspension.
WVSSAC rules state that "any student who in protest lays hands or attempts to lay hands upon an official may be declared ineligible by the principal or by the WVSSAC for up to one year."
"We feel O.J. certainly didn't do anything intentional," Woelfel said. "If there was contact, it was inadvertent or may have been accidentally initiated by the referee himself."
Mike Hayden, executive director of the WVSSAC, said there is an ongoing investigation into Friday night's game, but declined to elaborate on who is the focus of the inquiry or what it is about.
"I cannot give answers to any question at this time," Hayden said Monday. "We're still in the fact-gathering mode at this time. We're looking at the situation in its entirety."
Woelfel said when he met with Mayo and his mother Monday, the player was concerned about the situation.
"O.J. is a very bright, young man who understands he's in an awkward position," he said. "It's a very delicate situation. He's concerned about his future and his reputation."
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed this morning in Cabell Circuit Court to request a temporary injunction to stop the suspension of Huntington High basketball player O.J. Mayo.
The five reserve players were ejected from Friday nightâs game against Capital for leaving the bench amid a flurry of technical fouls. They were suspended two games.
Attorney Paul Farrell Jr., who represented the reserve players, argued that the players have no rights within West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission rules to file an appeal.
The order means reserves Brandon Hutchison, C.J. Crawford, Michael Morton, Colin Oakley and Lambros Svingos are eligible to play in tonight's showdown against nationally ranked Artesia. The five reserve players are already in Durham
http://www.hdonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar.../701300302
Mayo's lawyer said they filed a request for an injunction to allow Mayo to play tonight as well.
âWe are asking the circuit judge to maintain the status quo, that is that O.J.âs available to play,â Mike Woelfel, Mayo's attorney and an assistant coach for the Highlanders, said. âWe are also asking the judge to examine the rules and regulations of the SSAC to determine that their denial of an administrative hearing prior to punishment being imposed is unfair.â
Mayo's hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. Mayo is meeting with West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission Executive Director Mike Hayden at 10:30 a.m. this morning.
O'Hanlon has scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. in the case of five Huntington High reserve basketball players who were ejected from Friday night's game against Capital for leaving the bench amid a flurry of technical fouls.
Mayo also was ejected from the Capital game after receiving two technical fouls from referee Mike Lazo for taunting. After the second technical foul, Mayo followed Lazo to the scorer's table to object. When the referee stopped, Mayo bumped into him from behind, and Lazo fell to the ground.
According to WVSSAC rules, the ejections carry a two-game suspension.
A complaint filed Monday in Cabell Circuit Court by the parents of the reserve players requests a temporary restraining order, which would allow them to play tonight. The complaint asks that the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission be barred from imposing the suspensions against the players until a decision is made regarding their procedural right to appeal the suspensions.
However, there are strings attached if they play. WVSSAC rules say if a student plays under the terms of a court restraining order that is subsequently reversed, the WVSSAC could force the team to forfeit victories in which the student played.
All of the reserve players who are seeking a temporary restraining order traveled to Durham, N.C., with the rest of the team.
"Given the circumstances, these kids deserve an opportunity to be heard before they are denied the chance of a lifetime because of an arbitrary enforcement of a rule they did not intend to violate," said Paul Farrell Jr., one of three attorneys representing the players.
The complaint alleges that while Mayo was escorted off the court Friday by police officers, Huntington High's reserve players remained near the bench. They did not participate in any of the incidents that led to Mayo's ejection, according to the complaint.
"They didn't violate the text or the spirit of the rule that speaks to leaving the bench area," Farrell said.
According to WVSSAC rules, the protest of a contest or ejection is not allowed.
"Accordingly, the (WVSSAC) Board of Directors is not authorized to order contests to be replayed or ejections to be considered," the rule says.
However, the complaint argues that the rule is silent as to whether subsequent disciplinary action is subject to an appeal.
As for Mayo, the WVSSAC is still reviewing his bumping incident with Lazo to determine whether additional time should be tacked on to the senior guard's two-game suspension.
WVSSAC rules state that "any student who in protest lays hands or attempts to lay hands upon an official may be declared ineligible by the principal or by the WVSSAC for up to one year."
"We feel O.J. certainly didn't do anything intentional," Woelfel said. "If there was contact, it was inadvertent or may have been accidentally initiated by the referee himself."
Mike Hayden, executive director of the WVSSAC, said there is an ongoing investigation into Friday night's game, but declined to elaborate on who is the focus of the inquiry or what it is about.
"I cannot give answers to any question at this time," Hayden said Monday. "We're still in the fact-gathering mode at this time. We're looking at the situation in its entirety."
Woelfel said when he met with Mayo and his mother Monday, the player was concerned about the situation.
"O.J. is a very bright, young man who understands he's in an awkward position," he said. "It's a very delicate situation. He's concerned about his future and his reputation."