MVC teams won't meet in finale

Saxony Lutheran will not play its final regular-season boys basketball game on Feb. 26, forgoing a trip to Meadow Heights. Officials at both schools confirmed the decision on Wednesday.

The two schools met Feb. 7 in Oak Ridge in the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament final, which Saxony won 71-64.

During the game, Meadow Heights was assessed two technical fouls and surrendered a 10-point lead in the final period. Meadow Heights has suspended players in relation to verbal altercations with the officials.

Saxony coach John Daniel spoke with Meadow Heights principal Victor Martin on Wednesday to discuss the school's decision.

"I felt very good about my conversation with Mr. Martin today," Daniel said. "We agreed it would be best to wait until next year to resume play. I'm sure we will have a healthy rivalry for many years to come."

Said Martin: "We recognized that some of our students were out of line, and we don't want that kind of representation of our community. We've taken the appropriate actions to remedy that behavior."

Meadow Heights' disciplinary action included a two-week suspension for one player and a half-game suspension for others.