VHSL Issues Statement on Court Ruling for Manor Girls Basketball

League says judge misapplied rules in reinstating team to state tournament

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has released an official statement expressing its dissatisfaction with a Portsmouth Circuit Court judge's decision to reinstate the Manor High School girls basketball team to the Class 4 State Tournament. The VHSL says the judge misapplied the league's handbook rules and policies regarding postseason ineligibility, which Manor had self-reported.

Why it matters

The VHSL is responsible for overseeing high school sports in Virginia and maintaining fair and consistent enforcement of its rules across all member schools. This court ruling challenges the league's authority and could set a precedent for future disputes over eligibility rules.

The details

According to the VHSL statement, Manor High School self-reported a violation of VHSL Handbook Rules PM 28A-7-1 (5) and PM 28A-7-1 (7), which resulted in the team's initial disqualification from the state tournament. However, the Portsmouth judge ruled in favor of Manor, reinstating the team to the tournament. The VHSL says it firmly believes it correctly applied its own rules and policies, and it will continue to advocate for consistent enforcement of its standards.

  • On March 2, 2026, a Portsmouth Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of reinstating the Manor High School girls basketball team to the Class 4 State Tournament.
  • On March 4, 2026, the Manor girls basketball team defeated Warhill 89-45 in the regional quarterfinals.
  • On March 5, 2026, the Manor team is scheduled to travel to Hampton to compete in the Region 4A Championship.

The players

Ty Gafford

VHSL Executive Director who issued the statement expressing the league's dissatisfaction with the court's ruling.

Manor High School

The high school girls basketball team that was initially disqualified from the state tournament but was later reinstated by a court ruling.

Portsmouth Circuit Court Judge

The judge who ruled in favor of reinstating the Manor High School girls basketball team to the Class 4 State Tournament, which the VHSL says was a misapplication of its rules.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“While we respect the court's time and the judicial process, we are disappointed in the Portsmouth Circuit Court Judge's decision and firmly believe that the League correctly applied VHSL Handbook Rules and Policies regarding postseason ineligibility, specifically PM 28A-7-1 (5) and PM 28A-7-1 (7), and that the self-reported violation of these rules by Manor High School did not support the Judge's ruling.”

— Ty Gafford, VHSL Executive Director (on3.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Manor/Hampton regional championship game on March 5th will host the Region 4B runner-up Hanover (16-5) in a state tournament quarterfinal contest tentatively scheduled for March 7th. The Class 4 state tournament semifinals are now expected to be played on March 10th instead of the originally scheduled date of March 6th.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between high school sports governing bodies and the courts over the enforcement of eligibility rules. The VHSL is steadfast in its position that it correctly applied its own policies, but the court's ruling challenges the league's authority and could set a precedent for future disputes over eligibility decisions.