Published: Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 07:19 AM

Indian Land loses appeal, will miss this year's playoffs

Boys basketball team suspended from postseason after bench-clearing incident during McBee game

By a vote of 14-0 on Thursday, the South Carolina High School League's executive committee upheld sanctions that will keep Indian Land's boys basketball team out of the state playoffs.

The Warriors were give a year's probation, fined $300 and received multiple suspensions for a bench-clearing incident in the Warriors' home game against McBee on Jan. 6.

Indian Land athletics director Mike Mayer, basketball coach Nate Smith, principal Kathy Faris and Lancaster schools superintendent Dr. Gene Moore traveled to Columbia for Thursday's appeal.

Mayer said McBee elected not to appeal.

"I thought we had a chance as we were presenting our case," Mayer said. "We felt we had put in enough work in preparing for the meeting that we'd at least get the length of our probation shortened, but they didn't see it that way.

"We felt we made a strong case for our kids. We made the appeal to support our kids, show we accept responsibility and to (assure) the League that this wouldn't happen again. We respect the League and know they have a job to do."

The incident happened after an Indian Land player was fouled on a breakaway layup and became involved in an altercation with the McBee player. Players from both benches spilled onto the court, and the game was halted with Indian Land leading 40-28 early in the third quarter.

After the principals and ADs from both schools met the next morning, Mayer took game footage and written statements to the League office the following day. He and Bruce Hulion, the League's Commissioner of Officials, reviewed the video and notes.

Indian Land was notified of sanctions the next afternoon.

League rules say any player who leaves the bench area during the game must sit out at least the next game, and all but one of Indian Land's players were suspended for one to three games.

Being placed on probation means the team can play out the regular season but can't participate in the playoffs, which was the basis for the Thursday's appeal.

"Our players will be disappointed with the final decision, but that's to be expected because we have a pretty good team," Mayer said. "They have handled all of this well, with class and the understanding what happened was wrong.

"They agreed they wanted to raise money to pay the fine instead of the school having to pay it. They will hold a free basketball camp in June for elementary kids to promote sportsmanship. The players said this is their way of giving back to the Indian Land community that has supported them."

After Tuesday's win over Lewisville, the Warriors were 5-10 overall, 3-3 in Region 3-A.