INDIANAPOLIS – The state Supreme Court will decide whether the Indiana High School Athletic Association acted unfairly when it ruled a girls basketball player ineligible when she changed schools after a foreclosure on the family home.
The IHSAA determined in August 2008 that Jasmine Watson had transferred to South Bend Washington from Elkhart Memorial primarily for athletic reasons. A special judge and the state appeals court disagreed and allowed her to play.
The decision could take weeks, even months.
The justices questioned Wednesday why the IHSAA didn’t lend more weight to the family’s economic situation and why it focused on Watson rather than possible improper recruitment by the schools. Watson now plays at the University of Massachusetts.
AUTO RACING
Around the track
NASCAR has added a mandatory four-tire pit stop to the Sprint All-Star Race in Concord, N.C. The race will once again be decided by a 10-lap shootout to the finish; the order that cars exit pit road will determine how they line up for the sprint to the $1 million payout. … NASCAR will officially move from the wing to the more traditional spoiler at next weekend’s race in Martinsville, Va. NASCAR decided in January it would return the spoiler to improve racing and please fans who did not like the look of the wing.
BASKETBALL
Purdue women advance in WNIT
Brittany Rayburn’s 20 points led Purdue (15-16) to a 56-50 WNIT victory over Eastern Michigan (22-9) on Wednesday at Mackey Arena. Rayburn was the only Purdue player in double figures. Tavelyn James scored 28 for Eastern Michigan. The Boilermakers will play host to Illinois State, which defeated Butler, 57-54, at noon Sunday.
Toledo senior is Ohio’s best
Toledo Waite’s Natasha Howard is the 2010 Associated Press Ms. Basketball in Ohio, as voted by a state media panel. The 6-foot-3 senior, who has signed to play next season at Florida State, averaged 24.7 points, 11 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
NBA OKs Jordan as Bobcats’ owner
The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved Michael Jordan’s bid to buy a controlling interest in the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan is the sole investor, but he’s expected to try to find local partners.
FOOTBALL
Colts coach sets speech at Coliseum
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell will speak at the “Hearts and Hands” benefit breakfast at 9 a.m. May 15 at the Coliseum. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and the Coliseum.
HIGH SCHOOLS
Four area players to join all-stars
Four Fort Wayne and area seniors have been selected for the annual North-South Indiana All-Star Classic basketball games April 18 at Oak Hill, near Marion. Russell Byrd of Blackhawk and Cody Cochran of Bluffton will compete for the North, which will play the South at 2 p.m. The 4 p.m. girls game will include Canterbury’s Tabitha Gerardot and Taylor Foley of Huntington North, who will play for the North. Also, Byrd and Blackhawk Christian teammate Seth Kisler will play in the Indiana Basketball News All-Star game at 6:30 p.m. April 10 at Purdue-Calumet in Hammond.
HOCKEY
Youth tournament to begin today
Fort Wayne Youth Hockey will play host to the Indiana State Hockey Tournament through Monday at Canlan Ice, 200 Fernhill Drive. Fourteen teams from across the state will compete for a chance to play in USA Hockey’s national championship. There are six local teams competing. For more information, go to www.fwyh.org. See game schedule on Page 3B.
