Lyons Township lost more than a basketball game Tuesday. Junior guard Amanda Papuga, who transferred to Lyons from Fenwick in November, lost a bid to play basketball the rest of this season when the Illinois High School Association board refused to overturn an ineligibility ruling made last week.
Papuga had been ruled ineligible Friday because she participated in basketball tryouts at Fenwick in early November. Papuga, who watched Tuesday’s game from the Lyons bench in street clothes, was devastated.
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“It’s rough sitting out nine games, then being allowed to play eight, and then right near tournament time being told you can’t play,” said a teary Papuga after the Lions lost to No. 20 Glenbard West 61-58 in Glen Ellyn.
There was, however, one top guard in uniform Tuesday. Glenbard West junior Kristi Faulkner impressed a crowd that included University of Illinois head coach Theresa Grentz with a season-high 33 points and four three-pointers to lead the Hilltoppers (18-4, 8-0) in the West Suburban Silver game.
Katie Meyers led No. 12 Lyons (16-4, 6-3) with 23 points.
“A little setback today,” said Lyons coach Dawn Schabacker. “Well, now we can move on.”