Down to five players, the Iroquois High School girls basketball program has forfeited the rest of its games this season and will not compete in the 22nd District Tournament later this month.
The Raiders had just seven players in a 50-12 loss to Shawnee on Jan. 9, and coach Greg Schackert said two of them were lost to academic issues after that defeat. Iroquois (0-15) has forfeited four games since then.
Schackert said he tried several things – including asking eighth-graders to join the program – in order to keep the team playing this season. But nothing worked, he said.
“Nobody likes it, me most of all,” Schackert said. “It’s almost worse if you start a season and can’t finish than if you don’t start the season at all. Unfortunately, that’s where we ended up.”
Schackert said he had 18 players when he was hired as head coach last August but lost several to injuries and academic issues. He said a handful also had jobs that conflicted with practices and games.
“I understand that,” Schackert said. “That’s a tough decision, but I can’t tell them not to work.”
Iroquois won the state title in 2009 but has posted seven straight losing seasons since then. Schackert said he plans to stay as Iroquois’ coach and have a varsity team next season.
“That’s definitely our goal, but the kids control that,” he said. “We’re going to start some open gyms and see how many kids show up.”
With Iroquois out, host Butler will receive a bye into the championship game of the 22nd District Tournament. Second-seeded Doss will face third-seeded Western in a semifinal at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22. Butler will face the winner in the district final at 6 p.m. on Feb. 25.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.