Lamar back in playoffs, but is court case over?
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Lamar is back in the Class 3A football playoffs, but if the Warriors win the championship, would they be able to keep it?
It's possible a court would have to decide.
The AAA announced Monday the 3A playoffs would start this week with Lamar included. However, the governing body has not made a final decision on whether to keep arguing its case against the school in court. Last week, a judge ruled in favor of Lamar after the school challenged the AAA's decision ruling a player ineligible, and requiring forfeits of six games.
If the case proceeds further and the AAA eventually prevails, any Lamar victories in the playoffs could be in jeopardy.
The judge's preliminary injunction on Lamar's behalf last week allows the Warriors to compete in the playoffs. The AAA did not immediately appeal amid concerns over how long an appeal would take. As the AAA weighs its options, the 3A playoffs are set to start Friday night.
AAA attorney Ed McCorkle said the organization could appeal the preliminary injunction, or both sides might end up presenting more evidence. Or the AAA could decide to drop the matter entirely.
"I can't tell you which one will happen," McCorkle said. "We just haven't gotten that far."
A Lamar player who moved to that district from the Russellville district was declared ineligible by the AAA, but a Pope County judge granted the school a preliminary injunction last week, saying Lamar shouldn't have to forfeit the six games in which the student played. The judge said the AAA couldn't shut Lamar out of the postseason, and the governing body responded by briefly suspending the 3A playoffs.
The AAA said Monday the playoffs would begin this week and released new pairings that included Lamar.
Looking Ahead
All six defending champions still have the chance to repeat. Bentonville (the 7A champ) hosts Fort Smith Southside in a rematch of last year's title game, and Pulaski Academy (the 5A champ) plays at Greenwood. The latter matchup is a rematch of the 2006 championship game, which featured current Arkansas Razorbacks Tyler Wilson and Broderick Green. Greenwood won 56-55.
Defending champions Lake Hamilton (6A) and Shiloh Christian (4A) play at home this week, while Junction City (2A) will go on the road. Charleston (3A) has a bye in the delayed first round of its classification's playoffs.
Picks for playoff games this week:
CLASS 7A
Bentonville 27, FS Southside 7
North Little Rock 31, Rogers Heritage 20
Cabot 26, Conway 16
Spr. Har-Ber 16, Russellville 3
CLASS 6A
El Dorado 30, Texarkana 10
Jonesboro 27, Watson Chapel 19
West Memphis 24, Pine Bluff 21
Lake Hamilton 38, LR Parkview 20
CLASS 5A
Greenwood 46, Pulaski Academy 41
Monticello 38, Greene County Tech 10
Camden Fairview 21, White Hall 20
Greenbrier 41, LR Christian 29
CLASS 4A
Booneville 27, Malvern 16
Warren 28, Lonoke 14
Osceola 32, Ashdown 31
Heber Springs 31, Gravette 20
Shiloh Christian 42, De Queen 27
Nashville 45, Prairie Grove 22
Bald Knob 35, Star City 24
Dover 24, Stuttgart 21
CLASS 3A
Mansfield 22, Magnet Cove 21
Bauxite 45, LR Episcopal 6
Lavaca 31, Mayflower 20
Glen Rose 27, Cedarville 8
Barton 17, Green Forest 10
Lamar 35, Parkers Chapel 16
Rison 43, Earle 23
Cave City 14, Paris 7
Camden Harmony Grove 28, Yellville-Summit 20
Harrisburg 38, Jessieville 15
CLASS 2A
McCrory 37, Mountain Pine 17
Bearden 35, Mineral Springs 0
Hazen 15, Woodlawn 6
Spring Hill 31, Union Christian 7
Junction City 24, Murfreesboro 0
Danville 38, Cross County 29
Carlisle 21, Magazine 10
Des Arc 21, Strong 17
___
Last Week: 33-11
Season: 59-22
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
