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Wayne cleared to play by OHSAA, but 2 players ruled ineligible
The Ohio High School Athletic Association has ruled that Wayne’s boys basketball team can continue play in the Division I district tournament. However, two players — senior Xavier Jones and junior Isiah Boddie, both transfers — have been ruled ineligible for the remainder of the season.
The Warriors (20-2) will not forfeit any games. Wayne will play Cincinnati St. Xavier (12-10) in one of five D-I district finals at UD Arena on Saturday, March 13.
The OHSAA released a statement that claimed both players “violated Bylaw 4-7-2, Transfer, because they did not meet any of the exceptions to the bylaw.”
Their eligibility was apparently “established by false information that was provided to the school,” the report said.
“We are pleased with the process that the OHSAA used in investigating the matter and have accepted the association’s decision,” said Dr. Reva Cosby, Wayne’s principal.
“While we are disappointed that this situation has taken place, we believe the investigators and the commissioner and his staff have conducted a fair investigation. As a member school of the OHSAA, it is important for us to ensure that we adhere to the bylaws.”
Jones, a 6-foot-3 guard, transferred to Wayne at the start of the school year from Gary, Ind. He averaged 11.2 points and was a second-team All-GWOC Central Division selection.
Boddie, a 6-2 junior who transferred from Trotwood-Madison, averaged 5.7 points and was honorable mention All-GWOC Central.
Coach Travis Trice and AD Jay Minton were among the Wayne officials who met with the OHSAA on Wednesday at Columbus.
“The OHSAA investigators did a tremendous job, and Wayne’s administrators could not have been more cooperative in providing answers to additional questions that we had,” OHSAA Commissioner Dan Ross said in the statement.
“We have followed the bylaws that have been put in place by all of our member schools and it is unfortunate that this situation has occurred.”
Wayne was voted by coaches as the No. 1 seed in the sectional tournament. The Warriors advanced to the district championship by beating Piqua, Belmont and Xenia in the sectional final.
However, the OHSAA contacted Xenia on Monday and informed coach Kent Anderson that his club could continue practicing in anticipation of replacing Wayne in the tournament should its ruling also include Wayne’s forfeiture from the postseason.
Asked if it was disappointing, Anderson said, “It is to a certain point. If they were going by precedent or by the bylaws, then the team playing by the rules should go on. They beat us on the court, and they’re still representing the GWOC and the Miami Valley.”
St. Xavier had been preparing three game plans: Wayne’s A team, B team and Xenia. St. X coach Scott Martin said he and his staff were at UD Arena for the Xenia-Wayne game last Sunday, so they’re familiar with the Warriors without Jones and Boddie.
“As far as with them, I only know what we heard from other coaches, that those two guys are really good,” said Martin, who learned of the ruling during practice. “It makes them a little different, but they’re still an excellent team.
“We’ve been alternating each day on defense, and for offense we’ve just been doing our own stuff. It did make it tough a little bit.”
Wayne’s Greater Western Ohio Conference Central title is safe. GWOC Commissioner Eric Spahr said the OHSAA has completed its investigation and that Wayne will not forfeit any games.
Wayne blitzed the GWOC Central, winning an outright title (10-0).
“The administration at Wayne is putting things in place to make sure these things don’t happen in the future,” Spahr said.
“Unfortunately, there’s some things we can’t discuss that would prove to people that Wayne’s administration is doing the right thing. They’re good people. This incident should not tarnish their image. ”
The OHSAA removed Wayne from the 1999 boys sectional tournament because one of the Warriors had played in a church league basketball game during the tournament.
DDN staff writer Kyle Nagel contributed to this report.
