East Tech girls disqualified from tournament for OHSAA violation

Northeast Ohio Media Group

CLEVELAND

Cleveland East Tech’s girls basketball team was disqualified before the postseason tournament began.

The Scarabs, 19-4 and a state contender in Division II, were ruled ineligible for the playoffs by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Wednesday. The Scarabs were disqualified from the postseason because they played 23 regular-season games, which is a violation of Sports Regulation 20.

Basketball teams are permitted 22 regular-season contests under OHSAA rules, which was increased last season. Prior to the 2013-14 season, boys and girls basketball teams were limited to 20 regular-season games, but the OHSAA’s penalty for exceeding the limit has been stiff for many years.

The Scarabs were the No. 1 seed in the Division II Orwell District. They were slotted to face No. 12 seed Collinwood on Saturday at 1 p.m. at East Tech in a sectional semifinal.

Collinwood will advance to face No. 11 seed Ashtabula Edgewood on Feb. 26 in a 7 p.m. sectional final at Edgewood.

On Tuesday, East Tech coach Melvin Burke told the Northeast Ohio Media Group the Scarabs are 19-3 because Whitney Young apparently didn’t have a team when they played Jan. 27, an 83-15 Scarabs win.

“But during the season they put a team together, last-minute type of thing,” Burke said. “So we played them, but it was like a JV game or something. I don’t even think they are OHSAA certified.”

According to the box score, East Tech’s varsity players participated in the game.

According to a release by the OHSAA, Leroy Carter, the athletic administrator for East Tech, notified the OHSAA of the violation on Tuesday.