It’s official — Elyria Catholic’s girls are back in the Division III regional basketball tournament.

Regina High School said in a statement Friday it will not appeal its disqualification from the tournament by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

The OHSAA found on Thursday that the school had used an ineligible player and must forfeit its Wednesday night win over EC and the other 21 victories it posted this season. A statement by Regina Principal Sister Margaret Gorman is posted on the school’s Web site. It is included with an OHSAA news release about its decision.

“While we are disappointed for our student-athletes and the Regina community, we have accepted the OHSAA’s ruling. The commissioner (former Avon Lake superintendent Dan Ross) and his staff have conducted a fair and proper investigation, and have provided us with evidence to support their ruling,’’ Gorman wrote. “The OHSAA has rules that must be followed, and as a member school we must accept the consequences of not complying with those rules.”

In its release, the OHSAA said it concluded that the ineligible player “was in violation of Bylaw 4-8-1, Students from Foreign Countries, because she did not meet any of the exceptions to the bylaw that permits eligibility.”

While the school and OHSAA did not identify the player, Regina is said to have a student from Canada on the roster.

Regina, the defending state champion, defeated EC, 68-45, in their semifinal game at Cuyahoga Falls High School on Wednesday. The Panthers (21-4) will play Smithville (24-1) of Wayne County for the regional championship at 1:30 p.m. today.

The winner advances to the Division III Final Four at 3 p.m. Thursday in Ohio State’s Value City Arena. The opponent will be either No. 1 Findlay Liberty-Benton or unranked Collins Western Reserve.

Tickets for this afternoon’s game are on sale for $6 at the school 8 to 10:30 a.m. today. All tickets are $8 at the gate.

This is the first girls basketball team in Elyria Catholic history to win 20 games in a season and the first to win a district championship. The Panthers defeated Loudonville, 61-59, for the Wellington district crown in an overtime thriller last Saturday.

Because there was no school, the Panthers practiced Friday morning.

Coach Eric Rothgery described it as a good practice and said his players are ready to play.

Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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