Hudson Forced To Forfeit Triple-Overtime Win To Jesup

Using an ineligible player has cost the Hudson boys basketball team a last-second, triple-overtime victory over Jesup. The mistake could keep the Pirates from claiming at least a share of the North iowa Cedar League (NICL) East Division title.

This week, the Iowa High School Ahtletic Association (IHSAA) ruled that Hudson must forfeit the January 18, 2014 win to the J-Hawks. In the game at Jesup earlier this month, Antwain Strong's buzzer-beating, three-pointer gave Hudson a thrilling 77-76 victory over the then-unbeaten J-Hawks. Jesup's Trevor Larson unbroke a tie game just moments earlier, making two free throws with 1.9 seconds left in the third overtime. Hudson's mistake occurred as Larson was preparing to shoot the free throws.

With three players fouled out and a fourth injured, the Pirates erroneously substituted a player who already had reached the maximum number of quarters he was allowed to play that night. Under IHSAA policy, no student-athlete can play more than six quarters in two games on a single night. That evening, freshman and junior-varsity games were played before the varsity game.

According to Hudson Athletics Director Kevin Wurzer, when the misapplication of the IHSAA's rule was later realized, the school self-reported the mistake to the organization and to Jesup.

The IHSAA overturned Hudson's win on Wednesday (January 29, 2014). Now, following the decision, Jesup controls its own destiny in a tight, three-team battle for the NICL East crown.

Heading into tonight's rematch with the Pirates, Jesup has one conference loss and leads the division by one game with three remaining. Dike-New Hartford is in second-place with two league defeats and Hudson is third with three setbacks.