Newton out of tourney

By By Robbie Robertson / EMG sports writer
Feb. 25, 2004
NEWTON In a shocking turn of events Tuesday, both Newton High School basketball teams were disqualified from the Class 2A playoffs for playing too many regular-season games.
Newton High School principal Wayne McDill said he received a telephone call from Mississippi High School Activities Association Deputy Director N.Z. Bryant Tuesday morning at around 9:45 a.m. about the matter.
Bryant told McDill that it had been reported to his office that the girls' basketball team had played too many regular-season games, thereby disqualifying them from the playoffs and ending their season.
After receiving the call about the girls' team, the coaches checked and discovered that the boys' team had also played too many games and self-reported the violation.
According to MHSAA executive director Ennis Proctor, a team can play a maximum of 30 games in a season, 20 regular-season games, eight tournament games and two classic games.
Porter said the problem came in the tournaments played this season.
On the Newton schedule, there were 21 regular-season games, three tournaments and two classics for each the boys and girls. In the three tournaments (Bay Springs, East Central and Newton), each team played three games per tournament, giving each team a total of 32 games.
McDill was understanding of the situation.
As a result of the disqualifications, the Lumberton girls advance to the South State Tournament at Perry Central via a forfiet. The Perry Central boys also advance to the South 2A boys tournament.
The Lady Tigers end the season with a 25-10 record and were headed for the South 2A tournament at Perry Central on Thursday for a 4 p.m. contest with St. Andrew's after beating Lumberton 74-51 Monday night.
Since Jan. 13, the Lady Tigers were one of the hottest teams in the area, going 11-2 with losses to Choctaw Central and Noxubee County, and winning the Region 5-2A tournament.
Proctor said it had not been determined if the Newton girls team would have to forfeit their 5-2A championship but the matter would be discussed.
The Newton boys finish the season at 18-18 and were scheduled to go to Perry Central Tuesday for a chance to get to the South 2A tournament.
Proctor said it was a rare situation and hadn't happened in basketball in more than 10 years. He did say the Southaven volleyball team one of the state's best teams was disqualified from the playoffs last year for the same infraction.