The Mattoon girls basketball team will not be playing in the postseason.
A scheduling oversight caused the team to exceed the maximum number of regular-season games allowed by the IHSA, the school said in a statement. The IHSA permits a maximum of 31 games to be played, but a December game that was a late addition bumped their regular-season total to 32 games, triggering ineligibility for the postseason.
Athletic director David Vieth said another school contacted Mattoon early in the season and asked to schedule a game against the Green Wave. Mattoon obliged, thinking it had room to accommodate another game. Vieth called it an oversight. He declined to name the school.
“We didn’t think we were at that point,” Vieth said. “We made a mistake. It’s a tough deal.”
Mattoon was scheduled to play Paris on Tuesday in the Mt. Zion Class 3A regional. Instead, its season will end with a 17-15 record and a 7-5 mark in the Apollo Conference. The Green Wave concluded their regular season with a 55-38 win against Mt. Zion on Feb. 7.
“We deeply regret the scheduling error and the lost post-season for the team. We apologize to the players, coaches, and families affected by this mistake,” the school said in its statement. “Mattoon Schools are dedicated to offering many academic and extra-curricular opportunities for our students. We strive to adhere to all state mandates and codes during implementation and scheduling of these programs. Procedures and policies related to scheduling are under review to ensure this does not happen again.”
Vieth said Mattoon will not pursue any additional games to add to the schedule in place of postseason play.
GALLERY: Mattoon Girls basketball
MHS Girls Basketball 01/17/19 - 1

Mattoon's Jordan Sapp, foreground right, fights for possession against Urbana at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
MHS Girls Basketball 01/17/19 - 4

Mattoon's Morgan Otto (30) puts up a 3-pointer against Urbana at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
MHS Girls Basketball 01/17/19 - 2

Mattoon's Mallory Ramage (25) drives past Urbana at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
MHS Girls Basketball 01/17/19 - 3

Mattoon's Grace McDowell, center, puts up a three-pointer against Urbana at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
MHS Girls Basketball 12/27/18 - 3

Mattoon's Delainey Bryant, left, fends off an Altamont opponent at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
MHS Girls Basketball 12/27/18 - 1

Mattoon's Jordan Sapp, foreground left, and Altamont's JoAnna Schultz, foreground right, reach for a rebound at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
MHS Girls Basketball 12/27/18 - 2

Mattoon's -- Altamont at Mattoon High School in Mattoon on Thursday.
2018 MHS Girls Basketball Team

Pictured is the 2018-19 Mattoon High School girls' basketball team. In front, Peyton Gill, Flannery Sanders, Mallory Ramage, Amari Brown and Kylie Haacke. In back, Delainey Bryant, Hallie Niemerg, Morgan Otto, Grace McDowell and Jordan Sapp.
Mattoon girls basketball 02/14/18

Mattoon's Jordan Sapp, left, reaches for a rebound against Mahomet-Seymour at Charleston High School in Charleston on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Mattoon girls basketball 01/29/18

Mattoon High School's Ashlyn MacDonald is pressured by an Olney defender Monday, Jan. 29.
MHS Girls' Basketball 012218

Mattoon's Hallie Niemerg pushes past a Mahomet-Seymour defender Monday night at Mattoon High School.
MHS Girls' Basketball 010818

Mattoon High School's Avery Risinger searches for a teammate to pass to Monday night against Lincoln at Mattoon.
MHS-Girls' Basketball 010418

Mattoon High School's Ashlyn MacDonald takes a shot under pressure from a Mt. Zion defender Thursday night at Mattoon.
MHS Girls' Basketball

Mattoon's Avery Risinger scans the court for a pass receiver Thursday against Vandalia during the Mattoon Holiday Tournament at Mattoon High School.
MHS Girls' Basketball 121817

Mattoon's Bella Coffey is pressured by a pair of Sullivan defenders Monday night at Matoon High School.
Mattoon girls' basketball 113017

Mattoon High School's Bella Coffey passes over an Effingham defender Thursday night at Mattoon.
MHS Girls' Basketball 022317

Mattoon High School's Sierra Thompson drives past a Rochester High School defender Thursday at MacArthur High School during the 3A Girls Regional Basketball Sectional Tournament in Decatur.
MHS Girls' Basketball 021617

Mattoon's Sierra Thompson drives past a defender as she attempts a layup against Champaign Central in the regional final game Thursday in Urbana.
MHS Girls Basketball 020917

Mattoon's Sierra Thompson goes up for a shot Thursday night against Mahomet-Seymour at Mattoon.
MHS Girls' Basketball 020217

Mattoon's Ivy Nichols looks past a Taylorville defender Thursday night at Mattoon.
CHS/MHS Girls Basketball 01/30/17

Charleston's Hope Griffin (12) passes around Mattoon's defense at Charleston High School in Charleston on Monday.
MHS Girls' Basketball 012317

Mattoon High School's Bella Coffey takes a shot over a Teutopolis defender Monday night at Mattoon.
MHS Girls' Basketball

Mattoon High School's Avery Jackson collides with an Effingham defender Thursday night at Mattoon.
MHS Girls' Basketball 010917

Mattoon's Abe Lee checks for passing options around a Mount Zion defender Monday night at Mattoon High School.
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(1) comment
It's particularly sad to think that the high school staff doesn't know how to count to 31. What kind of message does that send to the basketball team?
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.