Ruling-Extraordinary Ruling-MBB South Division Play-in for 4th Place

2014-15 Season 

March 2, 2015

Re:  Extraordinary Ruling that a MBB South Division play-in for 4th place be conducted on Tuesday March 3, 2015

Bob Murray and Mark Pretzlaff,

The ACAC Executive Committee met by Conference Call on Monday March 2/15 to discuss the situation that came to light involving the final ACAC MBB South Division play-off position and have reached the following extraordinary decisions. Please refer all questions and requests for further clarification to my office.

Summary Background:

A human error is attributable to ACAC personnel whereby upon making a direct inquiry, MHC received inaccurate information from 2 ACAC representatives that #15 Pietro De Andrade was not required to serve a one-game suspension in his next game as the result of his disqualifying foul (ejection) during the Feb. 14 game at MHC versus LC.  This was interpreted by the ACAC Executive Committee to serve as an official ACAC ruling to MHC.  As a result, MHC included #15 Andrade in their next game on Feb. 27 which MHC won over SAIT.  Subsequently,  SAIT questioned the eligibility of #15 to the ACAC CEO which precipitated an investigation that revealed the error. 

By virtue of that Feb. 27 on-court loss by SAIT, OC finished with a superior record over SAIT and qualified for the fourth and final South Division playoff position. SAIT has challenged that loss on the basis that MHC used an ineligible player and should therefore forfeit the Feb. 27 game resulting in a SAIT victory which would place SAIT in the fourth and final ACAC South MBB playoff position.

Decision: 

Acknowledging that the ACAC is responsible for the original error that created this complication; that MHC acted in good faith following the direction of authorized ACAC personnel and; in the interests of reaching a fair and viable solution that neither unfairly penalizes nor unfairly benefits either the SAIT and OC MBB teams, the ACAC Executive has determined the following:

• A special one game ACAC MBB play-off game will take place at 7pm on Tuesday March 3/15 where OC will travel to SAIT 
• SAIT was determined as the host since if the teams are hypothetically tied in the standings, SAIT holds the tie-breaking advantage
• The winner of this game will secure 4th place in the ACAC South Division and qualify to compete in the 2015 ACAC MBB Championships hosted by KC
• The ACAC will assume costs associated with this special play-in game: OC is invited to submit transportation and meal costs receipts and a statement while SAIT is invited to submit an expense statement for game day staff and other related hosting costs with receipts.
• The ABOA has been requested to assign game officials and similarly, those costs will be borne by the ACAC and not the two competing institutions 
• The game will not be actively promoted by the ACAC however SAIT and OC are welcome to share information about this game to their own supporters and fans.
• MHC’s Pietro De Andrade is required to serve a one-game suspension in his next ACAC regular season league game.

Mark B. Kosak, BPE MPE 
Chief Executive Officer