Parkway High School has been penalized for a self-reported second violation of an LHSAA rule.
The violation was the use of an academically ineligible player in Parkway’s spring game against Alexandria Senior High in May.
Last week, Parkway was forced to forfeit five games after the LHSAA ruled it used an ineligible player in those games. The player, a freshman who only played in mop-up situations, was ruled ineligible under the “bona-fide change of residence rule.”
Because of the forfeits, Parkway is ineligible for the playoffs. The LHSAA denied an appeal on Wednesday in Baton Rouge. On Thursday, the Bossier Parish School Board decided not to take legal action in light of the second violation.
The ruling for the second violation also stipulates Parkway will be ineligible for championship honors this season. The school has been placed on restrictive probation and fined $700.
Parkway head coach David Feaster has been placed on probation for one year. Also, the ineligible player who played in the spring game must sit out tonight’s final game against Airline.
This is the second time in three years Parkway has been penalized by the LHSAA. Last season, the Panthers were forced to play all playoff games on the road because of an incident before a 2012 playoff game against Live Oak.
Parkway nevertheless won four playoff games en route to the Class 5A state championship game. The Panthers finished 13-1 after losing to Acadiana 77-41.
— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com
