HOUSTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The coach of a basketball team at a Jewish high school in Houston says the team must withdraw from state championships because they interfere with Sabbath.
The Beren Academy Stars were scheduled to play in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state tournament 9 p.m. Friday, but the students observe Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.
Officials with the school appealed to TAPPS to reschedule the semifinal game against Dallas Covenant to an earlier time, but that appeal was denied Monday, the newspaper said.
TAPPS athletic director Edd Burleson said the school was aware tournaments are held on Fridays and Saturdays prior to its acceptance to the organization.
"You agreed at the time that this could be a problem for your school, however, the school leadership wished to pursue membership in TAPPS," Burleson wrote in an email. "With this understanding, the Board approved Beren Academy for membership."
Stars coach and Beren Athletic Director Chris Cole said he had hoped to reschedule the game because he knew at least one team had secured a change in the past.
"It's disappointing. I've been here 10 years and I've always known where our priorities lie," Cole told the Chronicle. "We were hopeful and optimistic going in that we could be able to do both -- adhere to the religious beliefs here and play basketball."
