Forfeits bounce Durango from tourney

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 10:18 a.m.

The Durango boys basketball team's 24-hour roller coaster ride ended with a crash on Wednesday, when the Trailblazers learned for certain they would not participate in this year's postseason.

After initially hearing on Tuesday that they had forfeited three games for playing an academically ineligible athlete, the Blazers received an overnight reprieve when Durango officials announced they would re-examine the student's grades on Wednesday morning.

But after meeting with Area Superintendent Dr. Allen Coles, the school ultimately upheld its initial ruling that the athlete in question had a failing grade in a class -- something that should have been determined during Nevada's mandatory grade checks.

"We tried to look at the situation from all perspectives, and it came down to the fact that we used an ineligible player," Durango athletic administrator Reid Kimoto said. "It was due to an incorrect calculation of the student's grades, and that's something we regret."

The Trailblazers, who were originally pegged as the Southwest Division's No. 3 seed in this week's 4A Sunset Region Tournament, were stripped of victories over Bonanza, Western and Clark, leaving them with a 1-7 league record and dropping them out of the event.

Clark (3-5) moves up one spot into the No. 3 position and Bonanza (2-6) takes over as the No. 4 seed in today's opening round, which was pushed back one day as a result of the forfeitures.

"We've tried to be specific with the rules, but human error is a part of everything," Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association executive director Jerry Hughes said. "These things are emotional and, unfortunately, involve innocent parties."

After learning of the final decision Wednesday, Blazers coach Al LaRocque met with his players.

"They're devastated," LaRocque said. "It was such an emotional roller coaster. We actually felt like we had an opening (for a reversal) there, but it closed fast."

Junior Frank Brown, who has played in the state tourney the past two years, said the verdict was tough to accept.

"Our guys worked real hard to get where we were at and to get it taken away is a real bad thing," Brown said.

LaRocque said he plans to attend the Sunset Tournament, even if he won't be coaching from the sidelines.

"'There's an element in Las Vegas that's saying 'Ha ha ha, they finally got LaRocque,' " LaRocque said. "But I'm not going to hide my head in the sand."