In the Monday AHSAA statement, Hardin singles out USA Basketball, Tara Davenport, Maori Davenport's mother; and Dyneshia Jones, Maori Davenport's coach at Charles Henderson High School.
"The student's mother is a certified AHSAA Basketball Coach; therefore, she is required to uphold current AHSAA bylaws and rules," the Hardin statement reads. "Furthermore, the Head Girls' Basketball Coach at CHHS is a former member of the AHSAA Central Board of Control; thus, she should not only appreciate the importance of knowing and following the AHSAA bylaws and eligibility rules but also understand how imperative it is to consistently uphold the same rules."
ESPN reached Maori's mom by phone, Tara Davenport expressed outrage at the AHSAA statement.
"I'm getting very angry," she said. "They are trying to pull stuff out after all this national attention.
"I'm a fifth-grade teacher and here as a volunteer coach. I just help on game day. I have not been trained on the amateur rule."
Jones, meanwhile, said she was unaware a check had been issued to Davenport, mailed to Davenport or endorsed by Davenport until the day before the money was returned to USA Basketball.
"I can't read minds," she said. "The day I found out about it was the day before the check was returned."
The AHSAA statement notes that three months expired between the time the check was issued, on Aug. 15, and the time the AHSAA was notified of the check's existence.
According to Tara Davenport, USA Basketball first alerted her to its error on Nov. 27 and the money was repaid on Nov. 28. Davenport said she left a voicemail for AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese on Nov. 28, but she never heard back from him.
"The only reason I didn't question the check is because it was from USA Basketball," she said. "I felt like they are big time, and I didn't have to question it."
USA Basketball president Jim Tooley traveled to Alabama for the final appeals hearing to support Davenport and to accept responsibility for the clerical error. Read full article here: http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/25706821/ahsaa-defends-maori-davenport-suspension-new-statement
Tomorrow Maori's team will play another game and Maori won't be able to participate once again. It's time that we reach out to AHSAA sponsors and ask them to help.
Current corporate sponsors: @alabamapower @CocaCola @Alfa_Insurance @RussellAthletic @Encore_Rehab and @eatatjacks. Which means they financially support the decisions of the AHSAA and Steve Savarese.
http://www.ahsaa.com/Sponsors/Corporate-Partners