Banned for playing in a tournament? The power struggle that's rocked New York high school basketball
Archbishop Stepinac's boys basketball program faces a postseason ban and head coach suspension after participating in the Chipotle Nationals tournament, which the Catholic High School Athletic Association prohibited due to scheduling conflicts with religious observances and governance rules. The CHSAA cited violations including playing past 4 p.m. on Holy Thursday and competing in an event outside the National Federation of State High School Associations framework. The decision has sparked controversy over control and tradition in New York high school basketball.
- ▪Archbishop Stepinac was banned from postseason play and its head coach suspended for participating in the Chipotle Nationals tournament.
- ▪The Catholic High School Athletic Association objected to Stepinac playing in a tournament that operates outside the National Federation of State High School Associations rules.
- ▪Stepinac's participation in Chipotle Nationals included a game on April 1 and potential games on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Saturday, violating CHSAA's 4 p.m. cutoff on Holy Thursday.
- ▪CHSAA's executive committee unanimously recommended the sanctions, which were described as unusually severe for such a violation.
- ▪Chipotle Nationals features top national high school and prep programs, including schools like IMG Academy and SPIRE Academy.
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