RALEIGH -- The N.C. High School Athletic Association denied an appeal made by Panther Creek over the exclusion of its boys' basketball team from the state playoffs as a potential wild-card team.
The NCHSAA, which changed its playoff format this season, did not select Panther Creek (11-12) because it said the wild cards were selected much along the same lines as the old format, which reserved a spot for one wild card from the 4A East and one from the 4A West. Panther Creek was the second-best wild-card candidate in the state, but it also was second among Eastern teams.
Panther Creek's argument cited written NCHSAA rules on its selection process for wild cards, saying the playoffs should take the top two teams statewide, then divide all qualifying teams from east to west.
Early Sunday, NCHSAA Commissioner Davis Whitfield responded to the school in writing, saying there would be no change to the brackets. A few hours later, Panther Creek athletics director Todd Schuler said in a written statement that the school will accept the NCHSAA ruling.
Said Schuler in his letter: "it is clear that the 2012 basketball seeding process communicated to athletic directors, coaches and media professionals was not written to a level of specificity that matches the level of discretion and freedom given to the NCHSAA staff members in interpreting the seeding process."
Schuler had talked with NCHSAA deputy commissioner Que Tucker on Saturday shortly after brackets were released, but the two sides came to an impasse that led to Panther Creek's appeal that night.
"I guess we should've said that the wild cards will come from the east, the wild cards will come from the west. If there is any blame, we accept that," said Tucker.
"We had received so many calls that we just felt like it had been pretty well communicated."
Schuler said Saturday that he didn't see the need to call the NCHSAA for explanation after the rules were sent to athletics directors' email.
"It seemed perfectly clear. They were going to select 62 automatic qualifiers and two teams based on winning percentage," Schuler said. "There was no need to question it in January."
Panther Creek has deferred any further questions to the NCHSAA on the matter.
"We remain disappointed for our students, coaches and fans," said Schuler. "Nobody wins in a situation like this."
The final 4A boys' basketball wild-card spot went to High Point Central (10-14).
