Appeals Court Upholds AHSAA Ruling in Oakwood Basketball Eligibility Case

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The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has ruled that the Alabama High School Athletic Association's (AHSAA) decision to declare the Oakwood Adventist Academy boys basketball team ineligible for postseason play will stand. The team exceeded the AHSAA's regular-season game limit, leading to a forfeiture penalty that eliminated them from the area tournament.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of high school athletic associations enforcing their rules and regulations consistently, even when it means penalizing a team that has qualified for the postseason. It also underscores the challenges schools can face in managing complex scheduling requirements.

The details

Oakwood Adventist Academy self-reported a scheduling error that resulted in the team playing 31 regular-season games, one more than the 30 allowed under AHSAA rules. Under AHSAA regulations, the penalty for exceeding the game limit is forfeiture equal to the number of excess games, which in this case eliminated Oakwood from the area tournament. A Montgomery County circuit judge had initially issued a temporary restraining order blocking the AHSAA decision, but the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has now overturned that lower court ruling, upholding the AHSAA's original eligibility determination.

• On February 11, 2026, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals ruled that the AHSAA's decision will stand.
• The area tournament championship game between Woodville High School and Ider High School is scheduled for February 12, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Class 1A, Area 16 Boys Basketball Tournament championship game between Woodville High School and Ider High School will proceed as scheduled on February 12, 2026.