By BRENDAN McGAIR
Sports writer
The decision officials at Davies Voc-Tech ultimately reached regarding the boys’ basketball program has caused plenty of ripples around the state. The Patriots’ season came to a grinding halt just three games in after the fallout from losing seven seniors to academic troubles was deemed too much to overcome.
The varsity players were booted after failing to meet the requirements of the school’s mandatory senior project. It should be noted that the student-athletes would have maintained their eligibility under Interscholastic League standards.
Reaction from the state’s governing body of high school athletics bordered on the somber side. “Very disappointed, but I understand the circumstances,” said RIIL Executive Director Tom Mezzanotte. “When a school loses a team it loses its soul.”
Mezzanotte said his office received a letter from Davies principal Victoria A. Galliard shortly before Christmas, explaining the unfortunate set of circumstances this once proud program was dealing with. The painfully short-lived season saw Davies open up with an Injury Fund contest at Pilgrim High, which ended in an eye-popping 57-4 score on Dec. 10.
“Definitely an unenviable position for the coaches and players. They have a proud history that you see when you go into their gym and views all the banners,” said Steve DeMeo, North Smithfield’s head coach. “It’s disappointing, as a fan of basketball, to see that Davies is not a part of things.
“In the 1980s they had great athletes and even in the 90s they had guys go on to play in college, continued DeMeo. “They haven’t been able to get the same type of quality athlete they once did, but I feel for coach Dave Johnson.”
Davies did participate in the Lynch Memorial Tournament at the Pawtucket Boys’ & Girls’ Club, bowing in an opening round game to St. Raphael on Dec. 11 (74-13) and to PCD in the third-place game two nights later, which wound up being the final time Davies took to the court.
Lynch Tournament officials have already ruled out Davies for next season’s holiday hoop gathering and privately hope that Woonsocket accepts an invitation to join St. Raphael, Central Falls and PCD.
Mezzanotte did not penalize Davies for its withdrawal and says the program can resume competing in the 2009-10 campaign. “They can return next year,” said Mezzanotte. “All you can do is offer support.”
”I feel bad for Davies because all Dave wants to do is work with those kids,” said Central Falls head coach Brian Crookes.
Thankfully a resolution from the RIIL arrived before league play commenced. Mezzanotte said Division III schools were granted permission to fill the unexpected open dates with non-league contests. The problem many area coaches quickly discovered was that just about every school, regardless of league, was virtually all booked up.
Some D-III members were fortunate to scramble something together. North Smithfield was able to land a date with Woonsocket, set for a week from tonight at the Northmen’s gym. Central Falls plays at North Providence, a D-II school, on Feb. 9. Burrillville filled one of its open dates by traveling to D-I affiliate Exeter/West Greenwich last Thursday.
Another problem that cropped up as a result of Davies’ temporary withdrawal has to do with the postseason. D-III playoff rules state that teams must win, at minimum, 45 percent of its games (in this case, eight) in order to qualify. With two chances taken away, the pressure mounts for those clubs sitting on the fence. 
“It’s tough because we lose two (league) games,” said DeMeo. “We’re fortunate in that we’re in a position to make the playoffs, but for teams that are on the bubble, losing two games takes away two chances from every team.”
“If it comes down to two wins getting into the playoffs, that could affect some teams,” said Crookes.