The Monterey High School boys basketball team may be penalized for possibly violating LHSAA rules after the team walked off the court early in a Feb. 7 game at Avoyelles Charter.

Monterey boys basketball coach Eric Richard said the decision to leave with approximately three minutes remaining came after an official asked Monterey’s cheerleaders to move off the court and into the bleachers.

“We weren’t going to finish the game if (the cheerleaders) couldn’t be there,” Richard said. “(The cheerleaders) did nothing wrong, and they were being punished.”

Richard said the official did not try to communicate with him or any other Monterey administrator about the issue, and that when he went to the official to see what was wrong, the official said it was “none of his concern.”

LHSAA Media Relations Director Jacob Doyle said the organization is aware of the incident and is “looking into it further.”

“We are trying to make sure nobody did anything out of their boundaries,” Doyle said.

The LHSAA has the game marked as a victory for Avoyelles Charter, 43-16, and Doyle said if unsportsmanlike activity is found, the game could be changed to a forfeit sometime in the future.

Monterey Athletic Director Cary Shively said after Richard made the decision, he notified Avoyelles Charter’s administration Monterey would be leaving the game.

“It was the best thing to do at the time,” Shively said.

Monterey Principal Dena Hale said no problems occurred with Avoyelles Charter’s administration and the only conflict was with the official.

Hale also said a video of in-game coverage from Monterey was mailed to the LHSAA.

Doyle said LHSAA punishments for leaving a game early are not set in stone but could possibly fall under the LHSAA penalty code for sportsmanship violations.

Penalties Monterey could potentially face under this section of the LHSAA handbook include:

4The school may be placed on administrative, disciplinary, restrictive, or suspension probation not to exceed one calendar year.

— The school may be fined not to exceed $200 for a single violation.

— The school may be fined not to exceed $500 for multiple violations.

— The school may be charged with the cost of any investigation connected with the violation.

— The school may be charged with the cost of conducting a sportsmanship hearing that is held in connection with the violation.

— The school may be ordered to conduct a home and/or an away contest(s) in the sport without a player(s), a coach(es), and/or a spectator(s) in attendance not to exceed one calendar year.

— The school may be prohibited from playing home contests in the sport not to exceed one calendar year.

— Other penalties may be imposed on the school and/or individual(s) to a degree in keeping with the severity of the violation.

Doyle said Richard could face a disciplinary class for his actions.

The LHSAA states that a mandatory two-year suspension period is required for any sports team that takes two or more forfeits during a season.

Richard said he understands the rules of the LHSAA and will accept any reprimands.