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Wallington files complaint after 84-4 boys basketball loss to St. Mary – NorthJersey.com
Wallington has filed a complaint with North Jersey Interscholastic Conference officials after Tuesday’s 84-4 boys basketball loss at St. Mary.
“The NJIC is aware of what happened and is looking into it,” Wallington athletic director Charles Vellis Jr. said Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s on record, it’s official, and it’s going to be addressed,” NJIC executive director Stan Fryczynski said.
St. Mary (3-0) is defending NJIC champion and has a veteran roster, while Wallington (0-3) is inexperienced and rebuilding. The Gaels and Panthers compete in the Meadowlands Division and are slated to play again on Jan. 10 at Wallington.
The small-school NJIC has placed a premium on creating competitive matchups, and last week’s opening night featured seven games decided by four points or fewer. The NJIC also utilizes a running clock in the fourth quarter if one team is leading by 35 or more points.
“We don’t come across a lot of sportsmanship issues, thankfully,” Fryczynski said.
Vellis said he and St. Mary athletic director Paul Johnsen have discussed the game, “and Paul and I have a good relationship.” Johnsen did not immediately return a voicemail left at his school on Wednesday afternoon.
Fryczynski said it’s up to the schools to decide if there should be “further input” by the NJIC disputes and controversies committee. Because of the pending holiday break, he said NJIC officials would not convene to discuss it until after the new year.
“It’s up to the two schools to begin to hammer it out,” Fryczynski said. “And if Wallington and their administrators want to go a step further, it is their right and option to do so.”