Curie High School Stripped Of Public League Championship

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Mar 3, 2014 8:40PM

For the second time in two weeks, one of the state's top high school basketball programs has been stripped of wins and post-season glory. Curie High School's boy's basketball team was stripped of their Public League Title (they defeated Whitney Young 69-66 in four overtimes) and forced to forfeit all wins this season because of seven academically ineligible players on their roster since the start of the season.

Curie, however, has not yet been ruled out of the state tournament because Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois High School Association have different eligibility requirements. IHSA executive director Marty Hickman said in a written statement the organization was reviewing the CPS ruling and was expected to decide on Monday whether the Condors can suit up. Curie has been the Tribune's top ranked team in the state since early in the season, so they would have a good shot at the title if allowed to play.

The top girls team in Illinois has already had their state title hopes quashed by the IHSA. Homewood-Flossmoor was disqualified last week in the wake of a ruling that players improperly transferred to the school to play under new coach Anthony Smith.

The sanctions by the IHSA followed a lawsuit that rocked the program, accusing Smith of improperly recruiting star players from other school districts in his first season at H-F. Four players who previously played for the four-time state champion coach Smith at Bolingbrook High School and two that played for him in an elite summer league all transferred to H-F, with many apparently sharing the same address when registering for enrollment. The IHSA was initially prepared to suspend Coach Smith and 11 of the team's players but let the remaining girls play in the playoffs.

However, after the school appealed the ruling the IHSA took that offer off the table and forced the Vikings to forfeit last week's opening round game against Thornton Fractional North.