OSAA Loses Ruling On Saturday Games

SPORTS 

By Rob Manning

Portland, OR  May 8, 2008 5:11 p.m.

The Oregon Supreme Court appears to have settled a years-long battle Thursday between sports tradition and religious freedom. Rob Manning reports.

The case pitted the Portland Adventist Academy against the Oregon Scholastic Activities’ Association. The ACLU of Oregon sided with the school.

At issue was the OSAA’s requirement that high school basketball players be prepared to play daytime tournament games on Saturdays.

Competing on Saturdays is a violation of Adventist beliefs, so their basketball teams for years declined to go to the state tournament.

Parents originally sued to change the schedule 12 years ago.

15-year-old freshman, Jeremy Long, says the court victory was huge for his family.

Jeremy Long: “Like my brother went here for four years, and he never got to go, even though they qualified every year. So I just always, just dreamed of being able to go.”

The state Supreme Court decision requires OSAA to either come up with more compelling reasons for the current schedule, or accommodate the Adventist Academy.

Education officials say they're reviewing the ruling.

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