The GHSA received an email from Tucker High School officials on Tuesday afternoon stating that the school was dropping its appeal regarding the girl's basketball team getting disqualified from the 6A state tournament.
On Tuesday, GHSA confirmed to 11Alive that Tucker High School was appealing the decision to disqualify the girl's basketball team from the 6A state basketball tournament after an investigation revealed alleged violations of recruiting and undue influence.
A spokesperson for DeKalb County Schools confirmed that Tucker had dropped its appeal Tuesday afternoon.
"We acknowledge the Georgia High School Association ruling and will uphold the findings and will proceed to hold everyone who was involved accountable," DeKalb County Schools Superintendent and CEO R. Stephen Green said.
They declined to comment on the reason Tucker withdrew its appeal.
The GHSA Board of Trustees was already scheduled to meet at its headquarters in Thomaston, Georgia at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Tucker's appeal was added to the agenda, according to the GHSA.
Robert Williams, Principal of Tucker High School, was scheduled to present the school's case to the board at 11 a.m.
The GHSA disqualified the Tucker girl's basketball program after 11Alive brought questions about six players on the team who were found to live outside of the school's district. Over the summer, those six players were also part of an elite female basketball league team coached by Robert Stanard, a parent and booster at Tucker High School. A few months later, the six players were all enrolled at Tucker and playing on the school's girls basketball team.
On whether or not more penalties could be imposed on Tucker, the GHSA said it is still investigating, but it already had enough proof to rule several girls ineligible and remove the team from the playoffs.
DeKalb County Schools told 11Alive it has initiated its own investigation into the matter.
"We acknowledge the Georgia High School Association ruling and will uphold the findings and will proceed to hold everyone who was involved accountable," Green said.
No DeKalb County employees or coaches have received any form of discipline as of Tuesday because DeKalb County Schools is still investigating the alleged violations.
Tucker was originally scheduled to play Harrison on Tuesday, Feb. 27. That game has since been canceled.
Grovetown, which lost to Tucker in the first round, is now scheduled to play at Bradwell Institute, which lost to Tucker in the second round. That game is scheduled for Wednesday. The winner of that game will play at Harrison on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
