(3-2-26) Every season you can usually count on at least one court ruling during the high school postseason…this past week it happened in Virginia.

A recent court ruling happened with Manor High School in Virginia (Portsmouth) involving the girls’ basketball team’s postseason eligibility in the 2026 VHSL (Virginia High School League) Class 4 Region A tournament.

Here’s a summary of what has taken place:

• Manor High School’s girls’ basketball team had an undefeated 14-0 region record and won their region quarterfinal game against Gloucester 88-20.

• The school self-reported that a sophomore player (who transferred from Norfolk Academy in December) was ineligible for postseason play due to a clerical error by the then-athletic director, Jamal Felton. Gelton failed to submit a required postseason waiver/transfer paperwork. Under a new Virginia High School League rule, that makes a player ineligible for postseason play without a waiver.

Note: The athletic director is no longer in that role at the school.

• As a result, the Mustangs were forced to forfeit their quarterfinal win, ending their season prematurely.

After it had been announced that Manor had forfeited its 88-20 region quarterfinal win over Gloucester last Tuesday, Gloucester replaced Manor in the state tournament, falling to Warhill High School of James City County 56-31.

• Parents of the players (represented by attorney Steven Washington) filed a lawsuit in Portsmouth Circuit Court seeking an injunction.

• On Friday, February 27, 2026, Circuit Court Judge Brenda Spry (3rd Judicial Circuit) and granted a temporary injunction, reinstating the team’s eligibility, vacating the forfeiture, and halting the ongoing tournament in that bracket (including pausing a scheduled championship game between Hampton and Warhill) to allow the review.

• Following a hearing on Monday, March 2, 2026, Judge Spry issued a final ruling vacating the forfeiture and the player’s ineligibility. This allowed the Manor girls’ basketball team to continue in the postseason tournament.

Monday’s ruling will insert Manor back into the playoffs mix and, while the format, opponent and games are still being figured out, many speculate that the semifinal game may be replayed with the Mustangs taking on Warhill.