Girl Who Played On Boys' Basketball Team For 2 Seasons Banned From Playoffs
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Catholic school's boys' basketball team from Hegewisch was set to resume playoff action on Thursday, but without the girl who has been a starter for the past couple years.
Parents and officials at St. Florian School were left scratching their heads after the girl was forbidden from playing for the boys' team anymore.
Athletic director Ken Kozlowski said the 8th grade girl has played on the boys' team and girls' team since the 4th grade.
"I really don't know why they singled her out in the first game of the playoffs," he said.
Kozlowski said she has played in about 30 games on the boys' team the past two seasons, including last year's playoffs, but suddenly the league has told him she can't take part in this year's playoffs, citing state rules
"I just can't figure this out, why they would just exclude this girl from playing. I just don't know," he said.
He tried to get a comment from the league president. Illinois Elementary School Association rules do appear to back the league's decision, but the question remains why the rule was not enforced before, but is now.
The league president has not responded to attempts for comment.