OPELOUSAS, La. — The Opelousas Tigers were shaping up to be one of the top teams in contention for the Class 4A title after being ranked No. 4 overall with a 15-4 record, but it appears that none of those wins will count, according to our media partners at The Advocate.
The Tigers had to forfeit all 15 of their wins, according to the LHSAA website and appear to be in the same boat as fellow Class 4A contender Peabody, which recently had to forfeit 20 wins and won't be participating in the playoffs next week, the newspaper reports.
On Wednesday, Opelousas Senior High School Principal Ricky Julien released the following statement:
On February 22, 2021, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association issued a ruling which vacated 19 of the 20 games won by the Opelousas High School boys basketball team.
We do not agree with this ruling and we are proud of the accomplishments of the team regardless of this ruling. At the time of the ruling, Opelousas Senior High School boys' basketball team was ranked 4th in Class 4A.
The lesson of playing through pain and adversity this season will serve our student athletes well as one day they will become fathers, husbands and professionals destined to do great things.
With both the Tigers and the defending champion Peabody out of the playoff picture, the 4A bracket could be wide open for area teams such as Westgate, Cecilia, Beau Chene and Northside to make a run.
The specific details as to why the Tigers had to forfeit are yet to be confirmed.
You can read more from the Advocate here.
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