PORTLAND – Cheverus High won the Class A boys’ basketball state championship Saturday night. Now the Stags must wait to see if they can keep it.

Hanging over the state title is a Maine Principals’ Association appeal that, if successful, could cause Cheverus to forfeit its championship.

The MPA is seeking a ruling against the injunction that allowed Cheverus’ best player, senior guard Indiana Faithfull, to play in the tournament. Earlier, it was found that Faithfull had used up his eight consecutive semesters of eligibility allowed by the MPA, which governs high school sports in the state.

Faithfull began high school in Sydney, Australia, then transferred to Cheverus in the fall of 2007 to begin his sophomore year. Because the school calendar in Australia is different than here, Faithfull began his freshman year in January 2006 and used up an equivalent of three semesters of eligibility by the time he arrived at Cheverus. When the second semester of Faithfull’s senior year began in late January of this year, Faithfull had used up his eligibility, according to the MPA.

Cheverus discovered the error, reported it to the MPA, and Faithfull sat out the final five games of the regular season.

Before the Western Class A tournament, Faithfull’s family sought the injunction.

Asked about the status of the appeal, Richard Durost, the executive director of the MPA, said the group is pushing forward with the appeal.

“I said from the start that this could take months, and that hasn’t changed. There has to be depositions. The case has to be heard,” said Durost.

“We’re looking for a ruling that the temporary injunction was granted in error and that the eligibility rules apply to this student. If we are successful, we have a restitution clause which would require Cheverus to forfeit its wins and championships.”

Cheverus beat Westbrook for the Western Class A title, then defeated Edward Little of Auburn 55-50 for the state championship.

“To be truthful,” said Cheverus Coach Bob Brown, “we’ve moved on. Because what we did was follow what the court ordered us to do. We had a court order and our understanding is that you follow court orders. I don’t know what happens from here.

“We went and played and the results are the results.”

 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

 

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