An Alabama boys' highschool varsity basketball crew will hand over a possible probability to compete for the state championship, refusing to play a recreation that will go towards the varsity's non secular beliefs.

Oakwood Adventist Academy is planning to forfeit their regional semifinal recreation towards Religion Christian College, which was slated to happen Saturday. Oakwood, a faculty which observes the Seventh-day Adventist Church, mentioned that they might not play the sport previous to sunset.

This is because of Saturday being the Seventh-day Adventist's Sabbath, the day through which they don't seem to be allowed to carry out work. Because of this, Oakwood's basketball crew mentioned that they might not play till the solar was down, marking the top of the Sabbath day.

Saturday's recreation was scheduled to happen at 4:30 p.m CT, at which level the solar would nonetheless be up. Because of this, Oakwood requested the event's governing physique, the Alabama Excessive College Athletic Affiliation (AHSAA), to swap to a 7:30 p.m. CT time slot.

Moreover, Saturday's sundown in Jacksonville, Alabama—the place the sport was scheduled to be performed—is listed as occurring at 5:27 p.m. CT, only one hour after the present recreation time. It's unclear if there can be one other time slot obtainable.

Alabama Basketball Game
The boy's varsity basketball crew of a Seventh-day Adventist faculty in Alabama will forfeit their upcoming recreation within the state event. The selection comes after the state's athletic affiliation wouldn't change their Saturday recreation to 1 that happens after the solar goes down, which is in violation of their Sabbath. iStock/Getty

Though Oakwood has requested for a swap a number of occasions, AHSAA has denied the request for a time change to 7:30 p.m. CT, based on info obtained by WAFF-TV. On account of this denial, the Oakwood Academy board is planning to formally forfeit the upcoming match reasonably than play the sport and violate their Sabbath, reviews mentioned.

If this holds true, it will convey an finish to an unprecedented playoff run for Oakwood's varsity basketball crew. The 2022 group has made it additional within the Alabama state event than some other boys' basketball crew within the historical past of the varsity.

Whereas Oakwood Academy doesn't seem to have launched an official assertion on the matter, various individuals related to the varsity spoke to native retailers concerning the recreation.

Raynon Andrews, Oakwood's senior crew captain, expressed his emotions that his faith was a very powerful factor.

"When God created the earth, on the seventh day he rested, he calls us to relaxation on that day and provides that day to him," Andrews mentioned to WAFF-TV. "I am not going to play on that day it doesn't matter what, as a result of it is larger than basketball."

"Folks need us to play, they are saying, 'simply play on Saturday,'" Andrews mentioned. "However I acquired to stay to my religion and get up for what's proper and imagine God will make a approach for us to play."

Oakwood's athletic director, Calvin Morton, additionally echoed the same sentiment, however reiterated that the varsity's request was easy.

"We're not asking to vary a venue, we're not asking to vary a date," Morton mentioned to WAFF-TV. "We're simply merely asking to vary a 4:30 time to a 7:30 time to accommodate our faith and our religion. We're simply pleading on our behalf to make an affordable lodging for a easy time swap."

"That is larger than basketball, these guys know that and staying disciplined of their religion, that is a very powerful factor," Morton mentioned.

In an announcement launched by AHSAA with reference to Oakwood, the affiliation mentioned, "All video games at every area are anticipated to be performed as scheduled. That is the AHSAA's solely assertion."

Newsweek has reached out to Oakwood Adventist Academy for remark.