Regina disqualified from OHSAA tourney

By BOB FORTUNA

The Plain Dealer

SOUTH EUCLID

Regina’s final girls basketball season came to an abrupt end Thursday when the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled the Royals used an ineligible player in a sectional tournament game last month.

The all-girls parochial school, which is closing in June because of financial difficulties, was a favorite to win what would have been the program’s seventh Division III state championship next week. School administrators said they would not appeal the ruling.

Wednesday night the Royals defeated Elyria Catholic, 68-45, in a regional semifinal. Under OHSAA rules, Elyria Catholic takes Regina’s place in the tournament as the Royals’ most recent defeated opponent and will play Smithville in Saturday’s final with the winner advancing to the state final four.

Regina was found in violation of a bylaw in section 8, which covers students from foreign countries, as well as bylaw 3-1-1 for a lack of monitoring the school’s compliance with OHSAA bylaws and sports regulations.

After receiving an anonymous mailing Wednesday about concerns with a player’s eligibility, along with other potential violations, OHSAA administrators conducted a review and questioned Regina administrators Thursday.