Cleveland Schools: Ohssa Basketball Infraction Offenders

which schools in cleveland are had ohsaa infractions for basketball

Several Cleveland schools have been penalised by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) for infractions related to their basketball teams. Hathaway Brown, Cleveland James Ford Rhodes High School, and Cleveland Heights have all faced penalties for violating OHSAA bylaws. Cleveland St. Joseph Academy and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy have also had infractions, though these are not directly related to basketball.

shunwild

Hathaway Brown

However, prior to this achievement, Hathaway Brown faced some challenges with OHSAA regulations. In 2016, the school was found to have a student-athlete in varsity girls' basketball who violated Bylaw 4-7-2, Transfer. As a consequence, in accordance with Bylaw 10-2-1, Forfeitures, the school was required to forfeit any victorious contests in which the ineligible student participated. Fortunately for the school, the two contests in question were scrimmages, which do not carry any "won-lost" statistics, so no forfeiture was ultimately necessary.

The Hathaway Brown Blazers have a rich history in high school basketball, with five district titles to their name dating back to 2010. In the 2015-2016 season, they won the Barberton regional title and the state championship against West Holmes. The team has shown the ability to learn from losses and make impressive comebacks, such as winning five straight games after a challenging stretch of five consecutive losses.

The 2016 team was coached by Michael Coreno, who was in his first season with the Blazers, and included players like Jordan Elhindi, the team's only senior, who displayed leadership and scoring prowess, and sophomore guard Jackie Carman, who transferred from Twinsburg and became a key asset. The team also benefited from the talents of key starters Hannah Harlor and Mackenzie Berk.

shunwild

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy

In terms of OHSAA infractions, there is only one instance I found from 2016, where a Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy student-athlete in junior varsity and varsity volleyball violated Bylaw 4-7-2, Transfer. However, the student met Exception 1 to the Bylaw, having made a bona fide move into the district. The school allowed the student to participate in volleyball before receiving an eligibility ruling from the Commissioner's Office. As a result, the school was fined per Bylaw 4-1-1, Administrative Error.

While this infraction did not directly involve the basketball team, it demonstrates the school's responsibility in ensuring compliance with OHSAA regulations across all sports, including basketball. It is important to note that infractions can occur due to various reasons and are often addressed through appropriate channels, such as fines or other corrective actions.

The Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Varsity Boys Basketball team has had notable successes in recent years, with several victories against other schools in 2025. The team's strong performance reflects the dedication and hard work of its student-athletes, coaches, and staff, as recognized by the school's athletics program.

shunwild

Cleveland Heights

In February 2020, the Cleveland Heights boys' basketball team was banned from participating in the OHSAA postseason tournament due to a violation of Bylaw 9-2-1. This bylaw prohibits student-athletes from missing any scheduled school time to travel to a non-bordering state to compete in events. The team had travelled to Las Vegas for a tournament, which was considered a violation as it occurred during school days.

The Cleveland Heights boys' basketball team was ranked eighth in the Cleveland.com area Top 25 and had a successful season, clinching at least a share of the Lake Erie League championship. They had two remaining regular-season games at the time of the ban.

In addition to the violation of Bylaw 9-2-1, the Cleveland Heights team also committed a minor violation by playing two games on December 20 at the Las Vegas event. OHSAA basketball regulations restrict players to five quarters per day, not counting overtime, and the games in Las Vegas were played with 16-minute halves instead of eight-minute quarters.

shunwild

James Ford Rhodes High School

In a separate incident, the school had a student-athlete who was reassigned by the district due to a change in the academic program. This student was eligible for full eligibility under bylaw 4-7-6, Intradistrict Transfer. However, the district failed to submit the request for eligibility to the Executive Director's Office within the first 15 school days of the year, as required by the bylaw. As a result, the OHSAA deemed the student retroactively eligible but reprimanded the school for administrative error, requiring them to submit a preventive action plan.

While James Ford Rhodes High School has experienced these OHSA infractions, it is important to note that they are not alone in facing such issues. Other schools in Cleveland and Ohio have also encountered similar challenges with OHSA regulations, as evidenced by reports of various infractions and the ensuing appeals and penalties.

shunwild

Cleveland St. Joseph Academy

In 2019, Cleveland St. Joseph Academy was found to have a violation in OHSAA sports regulations. Specifically, a student-athlete in varsity softball was found to have violated Sports Regulation 7.2.1, which pertains to participating in non-interscholastic programs while being part of the school team. This violation was reported alongside those of other schools in Ohio, such as Perrysburg High School and Warren Champion Middle School.

The OHSAA, or the Ohio High School Athletic Association, enforces bylaws and sports regulations that govern the participation of student-athletes in various sports, including basketball. While the specific consequences for Cleveland St. Joseph Academy's violation are not publicly available, the OHSAA typically imposes penalties for such infractions, which can include fines, reprimands, or in some cases, the loss of eligibility for the student-athlete involved.

It is important to note that violations of OHSAA regulations can occur for a variety of reasons, and schools have the right to appeal the decisions and seek reinstatement for their teams or student-athletes. The OHSAA also considers exceptional cases, such as bona fide moves into a district or international and exchange student statuses, when determining eligibility and any subsequent penalties.

Frequently asked questions

Hamilton High School and Harvey High School.

Bylaw 4-7-2, Transfer.

Cleveland Heights.

Bylaw 9-2-1.

Cleveland St. Joseph Academy.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment