Riverdale principal: No interest in national tourney even if allowed
MURFREESBORO — Riverdale finished its high school girls basketball season undefeated for the second time in school history on Saturday, and sixth overall.
Riverdale principal Tom Nolan sees no reason to have his Lady Warriors take the floor again this year.
Nolan said Tuesday he has has no interest in letting his school compete in the Dick's Sporting Goods national high school tournament March 30-April 7 in New York City despite Memphis East's boys appeal of a TSSAA rule that forbids it.
The Board of Control heard East's appeal on Tuesday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Murfreesboro.
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The rule states that a sports season for a school ends when the team has been eliminated from the TSSAA tournament series or has won a state championship.
The Board of Control made its decision in an executive session. No East official, member of the media or the public were permitted to listen to the discussion or decision, which has become common practice regarding rule appeals.
The Commercial Appeal reported Tuesday night that the East's appeal was denied. TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress said the association wouldn't comment on the decision until it had confirmed that Memphis East had received the board's decision.
Riverdale (34-0) is ranked No. 1 by USA Today and MaxPreps. Memphis East (29-3) is ranked No. 3 by USA Today and No. 2 by MaxPreps in boys basketball. The Mustangs are playing for a second straight Class AAA state title this week.
Both Riverdale and East had received information about the tournament.
Childress said the national tournament is not sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the TSSAA follows its guidelines. Member schools cannot participate in a non-sanctioned event.
The tournament pays for all expenses including airfare, hotels and local transportation for the event. Schools from five state associations — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Utah and Wisconsin — are permitted to compete.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 and tkreager@tennessean.com or @Kreager.