SCC will hold off on legal action vs. MSHSAA

~ Scott County Central officials are hoping new developments will redeem basketball coach David Heeb.

Scott County Central officials decided this week to hold off on pursuing legal action regarding the Missouri State High School Activities Association until it is determined whether new developments will affect the penalties the organization recently handed the school.

The Scott County Central school board met Monday and considered actions to take in response to MSHSAA's penalties for the school and basketball coach, David Heeb.

"They did decide to pursue it -- if necessary," Heeb said Tuesday. "We believe there is sufficient evidence that maybe [MSHSAA] will revisit their decision. Those were things we weren't at liberty to say during the investigation."

The new evidence was discovered during an investigation by the Missouri Department of Secondary Education that found Bell City illegally obtained state aid for at least nine students who didn't live in the school district. (See story)

Of those nine students, who live in the Scott County Central School District and attend Bell City schools, three were among the four Bell City basketball players who alleged that Heeb attempted to recruit them to attend Scott County Central.

Based on the allegations by those students and other information obtained by MSHSAA's investigative committee, the association on April 8 handed Heeb and Scott County Central penalties. Those penalties include a suspension for Heeb that will keep him from coaching in games during the second semester of the 2006-07 basketball season, including district and state tournament games. He also will be prohibited from organizing open gyms during the three-year period of the school's probation.

Heeb and Scott County Central superintendent Dr. Joby Holland hope MSHSAA will reexamine the penalties in light of the new information.

"I hope MSHSAA reviews the situation," Holland said. "I know they wanted to make a point to David. But I hope they review it in light of the new evidence.

"If they don't review it, I think it puts MSHSAA in a bad light."

Holland said the school district is prepared to defend its reputation but hopes MSHSAA will take the initiative to review the case.

"We'd like to keep it in the hands of MSHSAA," Holland said. "They've told us all along that if there were extenuating circumstances, they would look at it. Our hope is that they do that rather than us having to push the issue.

"We respect MSHSAA, but we also have to stand up for our reputation that's been tarnished. With these new developements, it's our hope MSHSAA will look at things a little differently."

Attempts to reach MSHSAA spokesman Rick Kindhart were not successful.

Heeb had been the coach at Bell City from 2000 through 2005 and led the school to four district championships, three final four appearances and two state championship in his five seasons.

He left the basketball and athletic director positions at Bell City to take the positions at Scott County beginning this year.

"I don't fault the [MSHSAA] board of directors; I don't think they knew all this," Heeb said. "I'm hoping and praying this changes somebody's mind."