MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Senior boys basketball program was stripped of its Ohio Cardinal Conference championship for using an ineligible player, OCC commissioner Ron Dessecker announced late Sunday.
On Friday, senior center Donovyn Benson was ruled academically ineligible. Later that night, the Tygers stopped Clear Fork 51-49 without Benson.
It was later determined that Benson, the District 6 Player of the Year in Division I, should not have been eligible to play in Senior High’s 61-53 win over West Holmes on Feb. 14. The Knights were awarded the victory and finished OCC play with a record of 12-2. Mansfield Senior finished 11-3.
“Thus, West Holmes will be declared the champion (in) OCC boys basketball in 2013-14,” Dessecker said in a statement.
A 6-foot-6 center and three-year starter, Benson led Mansfield Senior in scoring and rebounding during the regular season. He will not be eligible to play in the postseason. The Tygers will play either crosstown rival Madison or Marion Harding for a sectional championship at 6:15 p.m. Friday at Galion High School. Madison and Marion Harding will play Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Galion in the sectional opener.
After starting the season 13-1, Mansfield Senior has lost six of its last eight. The Tygers are 15-7.
