The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
ASSOCIATION RULE CONFLICTS WITH B. A. (. PREP MEET
Leighton Writes Letter Re- garding Nonentrance of As-
 SOCiatiOn Hiqh Schools

Birmingham Athletic club basket ball officials have taken a step to- ward prevention of dispute when their third annual state high school basketball tournament is staged in February.
 Reports have been circulated that the Alabama High School Athletic association will not permit its mem bers to compete in the, tournament if on-association teams are allowed to enter.
 As a result of these reports. W. A. Leighton, chairman of the B. A. c. basketball committee. announces that he will send the following letter to all high schools to whom entry blanks for the tournament have been sent:
 The Birmingham Athletic club has been informed by an official of the Alabama State High School as sociation that under Article 23 of the association constitution the members are not permitted to play non-member teams and that this ap- plies to tournament play as well as regular schedule games.
 "As we understand it, the primary idea behind the association is to pre- vent irregularities in regard to the eligibility of players and to protect
  other unfair tactics on the part of opponents. In scheduled games there is perhaps need for an organiza- ton to govern the playing of games, but the requirements for eligibility to enter the B. A. C.'s interscholastic basketball tournament are more stringent than those of the State High School association, and the B. A. c. does not see. the necessity for an outside influence being brought to bear to insure fair play in the February championship games.
 Colleges Allow It.
 Members of the intercollegiate bodies are permitted to play nom members of their organization in tournaments without in any way jeopardizing their membership In the association of which they are mem bers. So, it seems to us that the State High School association would be justified in waiving Article 23 at applying to tournament play, for not only does this article affect asso- citation members in regard to the clubs tournament, but will also pre- vent their participating in the Cot ton States Tournament at Auburn.
 Our idea in staging the first high school tournament Alabama ever had was to invite every school whose classification was not above that of a high school to compete and this, the third, year of the event we have followed this custom feelin gthat un- less every high school in the state was invited to compete our tourna- ment would not decide the high school basketball championship of Alabama, which we intend that 1t should.
 Leeds To Protest.
 "We have been informed by MT. Aders, principal of Leeds High school, that at meeting of the prin- cipals of Jefferson county high schools. held Saturday, January 20, 1t was agreed that protest be made against Article 23 as applying to tournament play. The Birmingham Athletic club has invited every high school of which 1t has a record to enter the tournament and wants the association teams present when the whistle blows on February 22
 If the basketball committee of the B. A. c. can serve the members of the association in bringing about the waiving of Article 23 it will feel that it has rendered the association service which will make the or ganization of greater value to it's mmebers and would appreciate from you statement of your position in regard to the waiving of this article in tournaments.
 Respectfully,
 (Signed) w. A. LEIGHTON. Chairman Basketball Committed"